A DEVELOPER is being sought for a controversial 200-home project on the south border of Chard.

The development site lies between Tatworth Road and Forton Road, and along with a 323 home development on land adjacent to Holbear, has seen a backlash from the local community.

As reported in The News, almost 200 residents signed a petition objecting to the plans, which labelled the two development sites as “unsuitable, unsustainable and unsympathetic.”

Rob Anthony, from Bruton Knowles, the property consultancy firm which is looking for the developer, defended the plans.

He said: “Chard has been identified for considerable expansion over the coming decade and this site is one of the best and first to be brought forward.

“The land sits between existing residential development to the north and east.

“While it is within the growth area it is one of the first sites to be brought forward prior to the delivery of new road infrastructure coming to town.”

A spokesman for Bruton Knowles added: “The town has a population of around 13,000 and is situated mid-way between Taunton and the south coast – both are within a half-hour drive.

“The Section 106 agreement is likely to include a requirement to provide 35 per cent affordable housing and the scheme will make combined financial contributions towards education, arts, community hall, youth facilities and sports changing rooms in the order of £1.9 million.

“Offers are invited by informal tender by noon on Thursday, October 27.”

Chard town councillor Sue Wyatt is one of those objecting to the plans.

She said: “The road on Tatworth Road is inadequate.

“For the people coming from Chardstock lane it is a blind spot.

“There is more infrastructure needed.

“We have not got adequate school spaces, and doctor’s surgeries.”

Councillors Dave Bulmer and Irene Glynn have also voiced their concerns over the effect the plans could have on infrastructure and traffic, and MP Marcus Fysh recently met with a local residents group to help them voice their disapproval.

Mr Fysh admitted he also had concerns about the plans and said: “I am certainly myself going to be writing to the council to say they should seriously look at this before the council meeting.

“While inspecting the site, even without the new houses’ traffic spilling out onto Forton Road, I witnessed Becky Duke lose her wing mirror to a glancing collision in the narrow lane directly adjacent to where the site entrance.

“I picked it up and was going to send to the council as evidence of the danger, but I was glad Becky came back for and I was able to reunite her with it.”

For more information contact Rob Anthony at Robert.Anthony@ brutonmnowles.co.uk.