TOWN councillors in Sandbach are worried for motorists' lives after hotel development plans were given the green light.

An application for the extension at the Chimney House Hotel, at the junction between Congleton Road and Church Lane, was passed by Congleton Borough Council's Planning Committee on Monday.

The scheme will give the hotel an extra 32 bedrooms, an extended restaurant, a new function suite and an additional 40 car park spaces.

But Sandbach Planning Committee protested against the development, complaining the improved building would obscure the view for drivers turning onto the 60mph Congleton Road.

Councillor Dorothy Flint said: "I live near the hotel and it's a very busy junction. When you are coming out from Church Lane to turn towards Congleton the visibility is already very poor.

"It's obviously going to make the traffic much worse and it's going to put people's lives at risk.

"With people turning off the motorway nearby, it's a really fast and dangerous stretch of road. There have been quite a few accidents there in the past."

But head of planning Geoff Allen said the development would be limited by a 97-metre fence set 4.5metres back from the road to improve visibility.

"I agree with the Town Council's concerns but with this scheme there will be nothing but grass between the fence and the road, so people turning onto the main road will be able to see better," he said.

"The council is right to raise the matter and the Highway Authority have taken that on board."

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