A PUBLIC meeting about plans to build 200 homes in Williton had to be abandoned on Monday night after more than 250 people tried in vain to pack into the district council chamber.
More than 150 people did manage to stand shoulder to shoulder in the chamber, but with so many residents left out in the cold it was decided to reschedule the meeting to a bigger venue.
It will now be held in Danesfield School, Williton, on Tuesday at 7pm.
Residents will be given the chance to learn more about proposals in the local plan for 200 homes to be built on the east side of the village between Raglans Cross and Pondhead Cross, together with an industrial estate.
An action group has already been formed to fight the proposals, claiming the 2.6 hectare site earmarked for development is a much-used amenity area.
There are also fears the proposed estate could create flooding problems, increase traffic and put an unwelcome strain on local services.
Meanwhile, residents who went along to the abandoned Monday meeting have called for the deadline for comments to be received about the local plan to be extended beyond the current date of December 15.
They claim they will not have enough time to submit their objections because of the public meeting delay.
Planning officials are hoping to allow some flexibility by making sure names are registered by the original deadline, but will then give people an extra few weeks to submit their views in full.
l West Somerset District Council this week released a statement stressing that the development had only been proposed as a result of previous public consultation and the recommendations of council officers.
The idea of the development was first suggested in the summer of 1998 after the council published its draft local plan, which contained proposals to build at Dunster Marsh.
Council spokesman Norman Staples said: "If this option had not been raised during the public consultation, the district council may not have even considered this an option.
"It could certainly be argued that development would have less impact on a well established community like Williton with its infrastructure and facilities than on a smaller and more isolated community such as Dunster Marsh."
He said the development could also provide much needed housing for young people in the Williton area.
Mr Staples stressed that the issue was far from "cut and dried" as the public inquiry into the local plan would not be held until March 27 next year.
He added: "There have been and still are many opportunities for everyone to have their say on this matter. We are not even half way through the local plan process yet."