Over 80 angry Burnham-On-Sea residents grilled bosses from one of the UK’s leading property developers on Wednesday night (April 16th) as they stepped up their campaign to halt controversial plans to build dozens of new homes in the town.
Burnham-On-Sea.com exclusively reported earlier this month how Persimmon Homes has applied for full planning permission to build 75 dwellings on land to the west of Lawrence Close and north of Wallace Wells Road.
On Wednesday, Carl Haley, the regional Managing Director of Persimmon Homes, pictured here, attended a public meeting in Burnham’s Baptist Church Hall where the residents were able to quiz him about the scheme.
Mr Haley revealed the project has been downgraded to 69 homes – six fewer than originally intended – but this failed to sway the residents.
“That’s a tiny drop in the ocean,” said resident Nigel Kemp. “We want it to come down to 30 or 35 homes at most and are not impressed by this tiny decrease.”
Residents were shocked to hear that Persimmon Homes is in negotiations with Sedgemoor District Council about turning some of the new properties into ‘affordable homes’.
“If you get away with building this monstrosity, we’ll all run the risk of higher crime levels and anti-social behaviour,” cautioned resident Merv Sweet.
Other concerns aired during the meeting including the loss of parking spaces, the consequences of building on a former landfill site, emergency access, drainage ditches, the loss of hedgerows and the protection of water voles and trees.
Local resident Trevor Berry told Burnham-On-Sea.com after Wednesday’s meeting: “They were brave to turn up. Persimmon is arguing that it is doing is complying with government housing guidelines and that the design of the proposed homes is not its fault, which is a concern for us.”
“It’s also worrying that a deal could be made with the council to turn some of the houses into affordable homes, which could cause property devaluation in the area.”
Mr Haley said the views of residents – and other bodies such as the Environment Agency and highways authority – would be carefully considered as part of the planning process and that the views of everyone can be represented.
Residents have erected protest signs around the development site in opposition to the plans. Sedgemoor District Council’s Development Control Committee will consider the scheme during the next few weeks, and residents have until 25th April to submit their feedback.
Mr Hayley was accompanied at the meeting by Geraint Jones of planning consultants Pegasus Planning Group.
Our photos show residents at Wednesday night’s meeting in Burnham.
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