A new development would increase the possibility of accidents on an already dangerous crossroads, planners have been warned.

The scheme is on a site next to the controversial five lane ends road junction in Bedale, which has been at the centre of major concern and several road safety investigations after a fatal crash involving an 85-year-old man on a mobility scooter in 2013.

Bedale town councillors are objecting to the plan because the proposed scheme at the former health clinic in Sussex Street is "boring and unimaginative" on one of the main routes in the town.

Developers want to demolish the existing building to make way for eight semi detached houses, four with two bedrooms and four with three.

Residents have objected including John Gatenby who lives opposite the site. He said: “I object to this development on the grounds that it will adversely effect the safety on the already dangerous Masham road crossroads.

Darlington and Stockton Times: The proposed housing would be close to a busy set of road junctions in Bedale

“When entering the junction from Wycar, if constructed the houses would adversely affect the line of sight when looking left, at the current time there is reasonably good visibility and this assists when making the decision to proceed to cross because traffic from the right, where the view is limited, comes on so quickly that if the line of sight on both sides is limited this would greatly increase the likelihood of accidents to an already dangerous crossroads.

“In recent times there has been one fatality, which with greater visibility would likely have been avoided. Additionally there have been many other accidents, one when a car lodged itself in the window of Samways court. Added to the car users' problems is the safety of the many pedestrians including the school children that use this junction.”

Darlington and Stockton Times: There's concern over plans for eight houses on the site of the former health clinic in Bedale

Fellow residents highlighted flooding problems and increased fears for the many elderly people who use the junction to get into town and to reach the Dales Centre building. The new homes would also have limited parking spaces, leading to further issues on Firby Road and Wycar, where parking is restricted.

Councillor John Howe said: “I don’t think the design is very good, it is four bog standard semis which you could see on any housing estate, a creative architect could have come up with a much better design than this. It is very disappointing.”

Councillor Andrew Hallett said the design was “boring” and particularly concerning because the site is on one of the main routes in the town.