A COUNCILLOR has warned that if a 250-home development goes ahead on the outskirts of Wellington it would be a “disaster for the town.”
Members of Wellington Town Council’s policy and finance committee agreed on Monday (March 10) to oppose the development being proposed by project management company LVA to build on land south of the A38 at Oldway Road on a site beneath the historic Wellington Monument.
Councillors are angry that the developers are looking at that area as south of A38 has always been a “no-go” area for housing. But that could become a thing of the past if this development eventually gets the green light – although, as yet, no planning application has been submitted to Somerset Council.
The town council – and residents – have been told that they have until March 21 to get their comments about the possible development to LVA.
And following on from a packed meeting of the full town council last week, councillors were still 100 per cent in opposition to the development – albeit the committee meeting on Monday was only attended by a few people, with far more attending a meeting being held by Wellington Without Parish Council on the same night. The planned development site lies within Wellington Without’s boundary.
Cllr Steve Mercer said: “It’s a very dangerous and a precedential development. I’ve listed eight things I could object to.
“It’s unprecedented to have development on that side of the A38 and if that goes ahead we would be on difficult ground trying to stop any more developments in the future.
“Once you’ve put one house there what is to stop another developer doing the same? It would be a disaster for this town.”
Cllr Mercer added: “There are a number of arguments to say that this is not a good place to have it – the whole thing stinks and I’m vehemently against it.”
He was concerned that Swains Lane could become a nightmare with a big increase in extra traffic from the planned development as it would be the “quickest way to get to the town centre.”
Cllr Justin Cole said: “We all disagree about this development. My suggestion is that we get some professional help with this.”
He also suggested that perhaps the developers were taking a leaf out of President Trump’s book of negotiation.
“Perhaps they are initially putting in something which is so ugly and then after discussions they might actually put in something which is more palatable?” he questioned.
Cllr Mark Lithgow said the Government’s plans to build thousands of homes across the country could be a driving factor in the possible development.
“I think the Government is making it so difficult now to oppose planning developments like this, that Somerset Council won’t be able to oppose it,” he warned.
Councillors agreed to send in their objections to LVA as part of the developer’s public consultation, have talks with Wellington Without Parish Council to draw up detailed arguments about the proposal and look at getting in “external specialist support.”