A councillor has said "promises have been broken" after plans for railway crossings were removed from a huge development at the edge of a Norfolk town.

The row broke out as Breckland Council agreed to approve the final plans for the 216-home development off Swanton Road in Dereham.

Alison Webb, who represents Dereham Neatherd Ward, called on the development to be voted on again due to the removal of a crossing, which she says was promised at earlier public consultations.

Eastern Daily Press: Councillor Alison Webb wants the Swanton Road plans to be looked at againCouncillor Alison Webb wants the Swanton Road plans to be looked at again (Image: Breckland Council)

But officers said this was not legally possible as the application had already been granted permission in 2020.

The Conservative councillor said: “The developer has broken promises.

“Surely, we should be putting residents’ safety first. None of us wants to see a child killed there.

“I feel as this point is so critical to the development I’m asking for the decision to be brought back to the full planning committee.”

Eastern Daily Press: Part of the Mid Norfolk Railway line runs adjacent to the development sitePart of the Mid Norfolk Railway line runs adjacent to the development site (Image: Newsquest)

Earlier plans promised “significant improvements” to the level crossing according to Mrs Webb, with footpaths proposed on either side of the Mid Norfolk Railway line.

After Norfolk County Council highways officials deemed it only necessary to have a footway on the northern side, this was subsequently removed before the outline plans were given approval.

A number of councillors agreed with Mrs Webb’s concerns but officers reminded them that they could only vote on the ‘reserved matters’ of the scheme, which relates to landscaping, layout and scale.

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Harry Clarke, who chose to abstain, highlighted that only yesterday (July 31), a cyclist suffered life-changing injuries in a crash in Cemetery Road, which joins with Swanton Road.

But the plans were given the green light regardless, with eight councillors voting to approve while two abstained.

Paul LeGrice, managing director of Abel Homes, said: "Throughout the process we have worked with the town council, planning officers and highways.

"There are no statutory objections to our proposed scheme and any matters raised have been promptly dealt with."