Town councillors have this week strongly objected against a revised housing schemes that would see 47 new homes built in Highbridge.
At a meeting of the Town Council’s Planning Applications Committee this week, councillors voted unanimously against the updated plans for 47 homes to be built on private land next to Walrow.
The controversial application have attracted large numbers of objections from local residents, with 129 people writing against the development.
Councillors considered the changes to the layout of the proposed homes in the revised plans and also listened to the concerns of a speaker, resident Joy Russell, pictured.
She said residents “strongly object” to the plans on the basis of restricted access, flooding worries, the safety of the Walrow road bridge and the impact on ecology and wildlife at the site.
“With so much opposition in the area, I pray that this development is stopped in its tracks,” she told councillors.
Councillors considered the revised plans but concluded that not enough has changed to adresss their concerns previously raised in September. They voted unanimously to object against the scheme, but the final decisions rests with Sedgemoor District Council.
Cllr John Parkes added: “Considering that 129 residents have objected against the scheme, that should tell us something about the development. I strongly object against it.”
Cllr Andy Brewer said the Environment Agency has “serious concerns” about the flooding risk at the site.
Councillors cited highway access, proximity to the railway, over development, flood risk, insufficient flood mitigation and wildlife impact as the key reasons for their objection.
