PLANS to build 75-homes on land north of Witney have been deferred for a second time so further discussions can be had over issues on the site.

A decision on the proposals by rg+p Ltd for land off Springfield Oval were delayed by West Oxfordshire District Council's Lowlands planning committee on Monday so that officers could speak with the developer about access to the site and other concerns.

Both councillors and residents have expressed fears that access to the site through Springfield Oval could present a safety risk, due to the narrowness of the cul-de-sac and the number of vehicles that use it for parking.

Councillor Duncan Enright said: "We had a long discussion about the proposals and heard from residents neighbouring the site and the developer.

"What we decided was to defer the decision so that we can have our officers discussing what can and can't be done with the developer and how best to address some of the issues.

"One of the key problems is access. The only way onto the site is through Springfield Oval and we want to see discussions on what other options are available and how to make that access work, as well as whether we can make it beneficial to residents and improve the parking situation.

"Springfield Oval is too narrow at the moment for buses and bin lorries because it wasn't built to accommodate as much parking as their currently is on the road. Something needs to be done to address that problem whether the new development goes ahead or not, but the proposals do make it more urgent."

Mr Enright said he was pleased with the council's decision to defer the proposals again, and said it allowed further opportunity for members of the public to have their say on the plans.

He continued: "People of Springfield Oval need to have a clear view of the final plans and parts of the development are still a little bit up in the air."

Tracey Walker, a resident of Springfield Oval, said previously that the street would not be able to cope with additional traffic, and that the closeness of the community in the cul-de-sac could be destroyed with the influx of new homes.

The plan is comprised entirely of affordable housing, which many of the committee members have commended.

However, it means the contribution to the council will be lower than usual, with a contribution of about £100,000 expected in section 106 funding.

In deferring their decision, members of the committee voted to give its chairwoman, councillor Maxine Crossland, the power to approve or reject the application, meaning it may not have to appear before all of the councillors again.