PLANS for 315 new homes on the edge of Chard have received heavy criticism from the town council.

Persimmon Homes wants to develop land between the A358 and B3162 and first signalled their intention to build there with a plan to South Somerset District Council last July.

Having been met with staunch opposition from the Tatworth and Forton Parish Council on a previous plan for 323 homes, Persimmon's resubmitted but last night Chard Town Council recommended the plans be rejected.

Cllr Dave Orchard said: "This is going to be a main road in the future, and I have counted 17 properties in this plan with individual driveways which the occupants will have to either reverse on or off of, it is a blatant safety issue."

Cllr Dave Bulmer agreed, saying the impact the development would have on the town's traffic would be severe.

"This application falls within the Tatworth and Forton Parish but is on the edge of Chard and will affect the town. It will have a severe impact on traffic, there are already plans in place for 200 homes off Forton Road," Cllr Bulmer said.

"This plan is typical of major developers, it is clear it was put together by someone who does not understand our town and it has to be re-thought through completely," he said.

Cllr Amanda Broom said it was frustrating the developers did not seem to have taken the council's previous comments on the application on board.

"If this land was built on with the same density of housing as the 200 home Gladman development, there would be 164 homes proposed. The 315 proposed by Persimmon is a major overdevelopment of the site."

Tracey Berry, a resident against the proposed development, said: "300 homes is far too many for that site, and there is no provision for schools, it is already difficult to get appointments at the doctors or dentists."

The Chard Town Council planning committee voted unanimously in favour of recommending the 315 home bid is refused by South Somerset District Council.