PEOPLE have been urged to swamp Somerset Council with their objections about a possible 250-home development on the outskirts of Wellington.
Concerned residents were recently notified by developers LVA about the controversial scheme on land around Middle Green Farm off Oldway Road on the A38.
Although an actual planning application has yet to land on the doormat of Somerset Council, people and local councillors are up in arms about the possible development.
Wellington Town Council’s monthly meeting on Monday (March 3) was packed with people worried and during a discussion they were told to campaign hard to try and ensure that the development does not go-ahead.
Cllr Keith Wheatley said: “We are all on the same side of the argument. But the power to decide what happens to this is in one place – Somerset Council. We don’t have the power here at the town council.
“People should be prepared for a long campaign and I’d urge everyone to make the effort to do everything they can.”
Cllr John Thorne said: “We’re all on the same side here, but there is a gap in the planning policy and so it’s a free-for-all at the moment for developers.”
He warned people that public opposition, on its own, did not weigh very much when it came to the planning process.
“Just because people don’t like a planning application doesn’t hold a lot of weight,” he said. “We need legal planning reasons.”
But Cllr Thorne urged people to swamp Somerset Council’s planning website with comments about their opposition when the times comes and a planning application has been submitted.
“Everyone should put their views forward – it’s important to go on the Somerset Council’s website and put their views,” he said.
“Houses have to be built, but built in the right places. But I’m a cynic and I expect the developers are already negotiating with Somerset Council.
“There’s a danger that this could set a precedent and we’ll suddenly find ourselves with housing estate after housing estate after housing estate.
“This needs to be stopped before it gets going. This possible development goes beyond the pale and as it’s a major development it will be discussed at a future meeting of Somerset Council.”
But former Mayor, Cllr Marcus Barr, although in support of the objectors, warned people that they could be faced with a difficult battle.
He said it was inevitable that homes would be built in Wellington over the coming years.
“Somerset Council has been told by the Government that it has to build 40,000 new homes in the county – they have to be built,” he said.
“I get around the county and there are homes being built everywhere, but Wellington has been left alone.
“The Government needs to build homes and they have to be built somewhere.”
Cllr Barr added: “Somerset Council has got no money and will welcome money from developers.
“That’s the problem you (the public) have got when opposing plans for new housing developments – that is the problem you’re facing.”