The Commissioners of the Church of England were beseeched by councillors to allow pedestrians in a village near Swindon to continue using a footway to avoid a dangerous junction.

The Church's plan to knock down modern farm buildings on Prebendal Farm in Bishopstone, and convert historic barns there into luxury homes received overwhelming approval from Swindon Borough Council's planning committee this week.

But many of the councillors, and members of the parish council were disappointed by reluctance by the Church to allow future use of an unofficial cut though.

Pedestrians use the farmyard to walk between Icknield Way and West End Lane to avoid the corner, where there is no footpath on either side of the road and which they feel is dangerous.

Borough councillor Gary Sumner said: "The corner is dangerous, there is no footway and there is a high bank either side. People have used the cut through the farm for many years. I'd ask the church commissioners to allow that access to continue in this development."

Coun Vera Tomlinson asked whether the committee could put a condition into its approval to force the access to remain open, but as there is no legal public right of way, that would not be allowed in law.

Jonathan Hoban of Deloitte Real Estate, the church commissioners' planning agent said: "This is an unofficial access that we have turned a blind eye to. We feel it would be dangerous to allow pedestrians out on to West End Lane where there is no pedestrian footpath.

"The access is not in the plans before you, on which you have to make a decision."

With no planning reason to refuse the proposal, it was passed, but councillors were disappointed by the church's attitude.

Coun Fionuala Foley said: "The parish council and residents have shown great goodwill to this proposal.

"It's a shame that goodwill does not extend back to allowing this access."

The church commissioners have declined to comment.