CONTROVERSIAL plans to build 323 homes on the edge of Chard have been rejected by Chard council's planning committee.

At the May meeting of Chard Town Council's planning and highways committee, all six councillors voted to recommend refusal for the application on land between B3162 Forton Road and A358 Tatworth Road.

Residents at the packed out meeting applauded the committee as the decision was passed.

Prior to the application being discussed, the planning committee heard objections from six members of the public, including Holbear resident Tracey Berry.

She said: "I have the same concerns I voiced at the last meeting. I still believe we have a problem with the roads, a problem with the housing, and a problem with schools, doctors and any other facilities.

"The road will be very dangerous. Even now, the hedgerow is encroaching on the pavement that they are expecting people and their children to walk along."

Amended plans for the application were recently submitted to South Somerset District Council, along with a boast by developer Persimmon Homes South West to bring 775 jobs to the area.

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Chard Town Council recommended the original application for refusal, and councillors last night said they felt their concerns had not been listened too.

Cllr Dave Bulmer said: "I totally agree with Tracey on infrastructure. Our roads, schools and everything else are going to struggle to cope.

"Persimmon said it will bring 775 jobs. As we all know, once the development is finished those jobs will disappear which is no great benefit to Chard whatsoever.

"Somerset County Council has already commented with the number of school places they expect to come with this development.

"It is way too short, their estimation, given the nature of the properties to be built here. It is actually higher, I think.

"Quite frankly, these plans have very little differences to what existed before.

"It doesn't compliment the existing dwellings in Holbear. If you look at the footprint of these properties they are very small.

"I have great concern over the impact on the border with Holbear Grange. There is a car park area up to the boundary with a property in Holbear Grange."

Cllr Irene Glynn, chairman of the planning and highways committee, added: "There are a number of major issues that a number of people are worried about.

"On the proposals we put forward last time, they haven't addressed any one of them."

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Cllr Amanda Broom added: "With regards to traffic flow and additional traffic, I would suggest that, along with refusal, that should this be approved in the future access not be allowed onto B3162.

"This application has come out of sequence. If it wasn't then the traffic problems there would have been alleviated."

The planning committee voted unanimously to recommend the application for refusal, citing concerns over infrastructure, capacity of schools, going against existing developments in Holbear, concerns over the access at Forton Road, and concerns that the development is being brought forward out of sequence.

The planning application is set to be discussed at an extraordinary meeting of Tatworth and Forton Parish Council tonight (May 23) from 7pm at Tatworth Memorial Hall.

To view the full planning application and all related documents, click here.