THE Local Plan will give councillors the “meat on the bones” to throw out unwanted developments in Chard.

Town and district councillor Martin Wale hopes the arrival of the plan will rock the foundations of arguments in favour of development at sites such as Mount Hindrance which is the subject of an application to build 350 homes and a new football club to the north of the town.

Inspector David Hogger delivered his conclusions to South Somerset District Council last week.

Mr Hogger said that he sees no reason why the town should alter its plans to develop Chard in the east – which would prove a blow to developers at Mount Hindrance – and that provision for highway infrastructure is achievable, including a potential link between the A30 and the A358.

He added: “There is a commitment to securing the proposed growth in the town and there is insufficient evidence to justify adopting another approach at this stage.

“There have been many initiatives in the past that have been aimed at securing economic regeneration for Chard but they have been piecemeal in terms of their success.

“Against this background, there seems to be a more robust commitment to achieving the vision for the town.”

The lack of a Local Plan has been pointed to by developers as reason for the planning authority to approve developments ad-hoc.

An appeal process is currently ongoing for 350 homes and a new football club at Mount Hindrance which was originally refused in September 2013.

Cllr Martin Wale said: “It’s been a long time coming and we at the district council have been working through this and many obstacles which have been overcome.

“This will give councils the meat on the bones to point towards as evidence to vote against unwanted planning applications that go against what the town wants.

“What we need in Chard is to make sure that the development goes where almost everyone wants it to go, highlighted by the democratic decisions being taken over many years, and that is to the south-east of the town.

“Land has been allocated for development for years and years and this plan puts it there in writing.

“My general view for Chard is that the adoption of the plan can’t come soon enough. From a district-wide point of view I think that it is as good as it gets.

“It must have an influence in the current planning applications and appeals, because the