Published: June 30, 2008
Exclusive: Green space saved from developers as people power wins

Campaigners fighting plans by developers to build two new houses on a patch of green land besides their homes are celebrating today (Monday June 30th) after being told they have been successful in getting the scheme thrown out.

A petition signed by over 40 Winchester Road residents was presented to the council (pictured right) in March, as Burnham-On-Sea.com reported here, and district council planners have now decided to reject the scheme.

Case officer Colin Arnold said the scheme had been turned down because of flooding concerns and over-development.

"Winchester Road is characterised by semi-detached properties equally spaced with fairly large garden areas to front and rear. The proposal represents a cramped form of development out of keeping with the street scene."

"The proposal represents undue overdevelopment which is contrary to the policies of the Sedgemoor District Local Plan."

Delighted Winchester Road resident Colin Martin (pictured at the top of this page) told Burnham-On-Sea.com why there had been such opposition to the scheme.

"There is already a serious problem with road safety at this junction due to reduced visibility, so to add these new homes would have created a real hazard."

"Also, the location of the proposed houses would overlook existing properties and the privacy of up to six nearby homes would have been affected."

"We were also concerned about a loss of open space that would have significantly altered the street scene."

Our photo shows residents holding their petition outside the town council offices in March and, below, the site where the new homes were planned