Reasons for objection

It is essential that we all get letters to the planning department as soon as possible, as the consultation period is coming to a close. Letters can be submitted in writing or via the planning application web site (see below). Here is a list of valid planning objections which you can use. please address at least one of these objections.

1 Lack of policy support. There is no housing requirement justification for this site to be developed compared to other sites with better access to the A38/M5 such as Longforth Farm and Cades/Jurston. Even if there were a housing supply shortfall, this site is not an appropriate site for housing;

2 Lack of community support. As demonstrated by the Wellington Community Engagement Workshops, SWPs own consultation, and the strong public opposition to any development north of the river in the form of SWPs garden centre proposal;

3 Pattern of development. The housing area could be closer to Runnington than it would be to Tonedale. It would extend in an elongated finger away from Tonedale, which is itself an extension of Wellington north of the railway. It would not integrate into Tonedale at all.

4 Remoteness from facilities. The housing site is completely isolated from key facilities in North Wellington and Wellington Town Centre;

5 Countryside. Development of this site would extend beyond the natural barrier of the Tone and destroy the rural open northern approach to Wellington, which is visible from properties in Runnington and Tone Hill and by drivers along the Milverton Road;

6 Identity of settlements. The identity of Runnington, an ancient hamlet, would be lost. The rural buffer zone between North Tonedale and Runnington would be developed and the setting of Runnington and its church in its elevated position above the Tone Valley would be lost;

7 Traffic junctions. The two signalised junctions in the centre of Wellington which are already over capacity, would be further over capacity as a result of the need for the majority of trips from the housing site (over 900 trips per day) to pass through those junctions on the way to Wellington town centre, Taunton, Chelston, Tiverton and the M5;

8 Accessibility. The remoteness of the site from Wellington town centre is further emphasised by the need to install footways along the B3187 which would in turn require a one way section of the B3187, controlled by traffic lights, on the northern approach to Wellington.

For details of the application visit

http://www1.tauntondeane.gov.uk/tdbcsites/plan/plappdets.asp?applno=21/11/0004

to object or comment on this application (reference 21/11/0004) write to-

Mr A. Pick, Development management, the Deane House, Belvedere road, Taunton TA1 1HE