WATCHET residents fear that plans to build 250 new homes on the edge of the town could cause major traffic and parking chaos and pose a safety risk to schoolchildren and the elderly.

Developer Summerfield Homes has applied to West Somerset Council for outline planning permission for the scheme.

It is on a greenfield site at Liddymore Farm to the east of the town, which has been identified by the authority as a key area for development in its Local Plan.

The massive scheme, under discussion since 2015, is planned to include 35 per cent affordable housing in the mix of two, three and four-bedroom properties.

But in letters of objection, residents claim that extra traffic could bring Liddymore Road – the main access to the development – to a standstill and a potential population increase of up to 1,000 could overwhelm public services and shopping facilities in the town.

Objectors have told council planners that they believe there are better locations in Watchet for a development of this size, including the former paper mill site.

The developers said this week that residents’ worries, particularly about parking and traffic congestion, would be discussed in detail during the statutory 13-week consultation process following the planning application.

Concerns on how the scheme would impact on pupils at the nearby Knight’s Templar First School had already been addressed and would include new drop-off points and possibly a mini-roundabout.

A spokesman said the revised proposals stemmed from local fears which included traffic problems and the effect of heavy plant and vehicles during the construction period.

“The feedback we received has helped guide and inform the preparation of the outline planning application and highlighted a range of issues and concerns, particularly regarding the perceived impact that the proposed scheme would have on traffic flows during peak hours,” the spokesman said.

Several Liddymore Road residents were concerned with the effect the development would have on their neighbourhood.