A Dereham headteacher has voiced fears about serious safety dangers near his school after a new access road was approved which will go to a development of homes.

A Dereham headteacher has voiced fears about serious safety dangers near his school after a new access road was approved which will go to a development of homes.

Despite the worries from Oliver Burwood - head at the 77-pupil King's Park Infants - as well as governors, staff and parents and also the neighbouring pre-school, highways officials did not back their worries about the scheme.

And Breckland Council officials have now given permission for four properties behind a house called Edovale in King's Road. The access road will be near the school entrance in King's Park.

Mr Burwood said: “While we do not object to the building of the four dwellings on the land we strongly object to the planned access road from King's Park.

“It would significantly increase the chances of one of the children or their parents being injured or killed. It would be another road to cross on the busy walk to school and would have to be negotiated at the busiest times of day.”

The school had not been told of the approval and only found out from a local resident.

In a letter to Breckland Council, county council highways development control officer Graham Worsfold described King's Park as “a lightly trafficked cul-de-sac” and he had no objections as long as improvements were made, including widening the footpaths.

But Mr Burwood said even with improvements it would not remove the extra dangers.

A Breckland Council spokesman said there had been no objection from county highways officials, so there was no planning reason to reject the application for the new homes and the access road.