WEST Somerset Council’s planning committee granted outline planning permission for 250 homes at Liddymore Farm, Watchet, at its meeting last Thursday.

This was despite calls for a “total re-think” over how traffic would access the site.

Committee members voted by eight to one to grant consent as recommended by planning officers, providing the traffic situation and education funding contributions were re-assessed.

This followed a three-hour meeting when, backed by nearly 60 objectors, residents spoke against the plan, claiming that the development would have a disastrous impact on traffic and on the town’s existing services.

Their concerns were supported by committee member Cllr Ian Aldridge: “This site needs a total rethink over access. We are talking about 900 vehicle movements a day. It’s going to be impossible.

“This is the result of botched thinking that went into the Local Plan. ”

He believed housing should not be considered in isolation to infrastructure: “Housing is needed, but this is a big dollop.”

Cllr Karen Mills said: “The residents have come out in force today and it is our responsibility to listen to them.

“But we have again been reminded by the Government that there must be a presumption in favour of development unless there are good planning reasons for refusal.

“This site has been identified by the inspector as acceptable in terms of planning policy so I don’t think we could substantiate a refusal.”

The proposal to grant outline consent was passed subject to further investigation into traffic and education contributions, plus the provision of 87 affordable homes, a £184,000 contribution to Early Years education, £25,000 for a cycle path and the provision of play areas and open spaces.

The development is one of three for which planning permission is being sought and, if all were granted, would increase the number of homes in the town by over 500.