The House of Somerset visitor centre next to Foxmoor Business Park is shortly to be considered for approval by our planning authority. I believe the development will not benefit Wellington.
Alarmingly, it seems that our town councillors broadly welcome this project which will take business away from the town and will, in effect, be a glorified motorway service station only profiting those individuals pushing for planning approval.
It would seem our town councillors are swayed by the potential for 200 more jobs without thinking of the implications for the corresponding loss of trade and jobs in the town.
One also wonders whether the £4 million, apparently spent so far, with an eventual total cost of £10-15 million, blinds our councillors into believing the project must be good for the town.
It would be far cheaper, and more effective, to provide a well-designed kiosk within the southbound Taunton Deane Service Station, giving advice to tourists extolling local produce and craft shops in order to entice visitors into Wellington town and its surrounding area.
The idea of a ‘beacon’ tower to signpost the development from the M5 and provide 360-degree views will only detract from Wellington Monument itself and West Buckland church on its hill.
The proposal to provide e-bikes for cycling up to the Monument, or into Wellington, will cause chaos on our roads. A ‘theme park’ on the approaches to Wellington will do our town a disservice.
Over recent years there have been consistently bad planning approvals on the outskirts of Wellington, which have already taken business away from the town. I fear another planning disaster is on its way.
DAVID PRICE
Roundoak Gardens, Nynehead
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