Combe St Nicholas say NO to homes plan (From Chard & Ilminster News)
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Combe St Nicholas say NO to homes plan
11:51am Wednesday 16th January 2013 in News
CONTROVERSIAL plans to build 450 homes on the outskirts of Chard have been rejected by neighbouring Combe St Nicholas because it would see the village grow in size by more than 50%.
The latest discussions on proposals to build houses and move Chard Town Football Club on to land east of Mount Hindrance Farm in Mount Hindrance Lane, between Chard and Cuttiford’s Door, were unanimously turned down by members of the parish council.
A council meeting held last Thursday heard that 75% of the proposed development site was within Combe and that if 450 houses were built it would increase the number of properties in the parish by more than half. Parish clerk Anne Hunt told the News the council had “great concerns” about the proposals.
“The parish councillors voted unanimously against the application after hearing all the views from the various groups and individuals,” she said.
“There are great concerns about the whole site, including a proposed three-way road junction with lights between Bondfield Way and the Cuttiford’s Door crossroads.”
The proposals, which have been put forward by Mactaggart & Mickel Homes Ltd in association with the S.E. Black-burn Discretionary Trust, have met with widespread opposition.
Chard Town Council’s planning and highways committee also voted against the scheme at a packed meeting at the Guildhall in December.
Developers were not at either of the two meetings but a spokesman said they were interested to hear the views and outcomes of the meetings.
They are likely to be present when their proposals go to South Somerset District Council’s Area West committee, which will make a final decision on the application.
Chard Town FC has backed the scheme – club officials said the move to a new ground was imperative to improve sports facilities in the area.
The district council is due to discuss the Mactaggart & Mickel scheme at its meeting in February.
