Dozens of concerned residents in West Huntspill, near Burnham-On-Sea, have this week launched a campaign to stop 11 new homes from being built in the village.
Over 30 residents attended a parish council meeting in the village on Tuesday night (May 10th), as pictured above, to lodge their opposition to the proposals.
Applicant Joan Holderness is seeking outline planning permission for 11 detached dwellings on land pictured here between Alstone Lane and Alstone Gardens.
Local resident Ray Parker told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Over 75 letters of objection have been sent to Sedgemoor District Council regarding the plans.”
“We are concerned that the local infrastructure will not support another 11 homes here – this is a quiet part of the village not suited to a housing development. There are also concerns about flooding on this low-lying land.”
The Lower Brue Drainage Board has already raised a formal objection to the proposals, saying it has concerns about run-off of flood water.
Another resident, Sir Roger Coe, who was at Tuesday’s meeting, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I love our village the way it is. We don’t want the green fields to be built over.”
The field at the centre of the plans is also of historical significance since it was formerly the home of a scheduled ancient monument.
This, claim residents, is a further reason why the site is unsuited to new homes.
But Mrs Holderness assured councillors and residents at Tuesday’s meeting that the English heritage site would not be built over.
This is the second time planning permission has been sought to build on the site. The first set of proposals were turned down.
At Tuesday’s meeting, parish councillors decided to make a formal visit to the site before deciding on whether to back or oppose the scheme.
They will be joined by Cllr Joe Leach, who is the newly-elected Highbridge and Burnham Marine district councillor that also represents West Huntspill.
The ultimate decision on whether the scheme proceeds lies with Sedgemoor District Council.
