CAMPAIGNERS fear the hamlet of Ellicombe could become little more than a suburb of Alcombe and Minehead if a housing developer is allowed to build 37 properties on farmland next to the rugby club.

Strongvox is hoping to secure outline planning permission to build a mix of bungalows, houses and apartments on a four and a half acres site above the neighbouring rugby pitches.

Access would be through the existing Ellicombe Meadow estate, while construction traffic would be routed through a temporary access road off Ellicombe Lane.

Opponents say the two to three year construction time mooted by Strongvox would make their lives unbearable, while one nearby businessman fears his holiday company could be forced to close.

Keith Marsh of Ellicombe Manor said his holiday cottages would bear the brunt of the construction traffic and believed the listed properties and manor house could even be damaged by heavy delivery vehicles driving past in close proximity.

"Ellicombe Manor is not an ordinary Grade II listed building. It is Elizabethan with cobb and stone walls and cobb walls cannot withstand vibration from large vehicles so close," he said in his formal objection against the plans.

"A large vehicle was even unable to take the corner by the rugby club into Ellicombe Lane only last week.

"The developer has stated that the building work will take three years - this will have a devastating effect on our holiday cottage business, which will have to close during construction of the site and possibly lead to its permanent closure."

Mr Marsh said the land had an agricultural tie on it and building homes would effectively join Ellicombe to Alcombe and Minehead.

Other neighbours have also written to West Somerset Council to oppose the application.

William Oldfield of Ellicombe Meadow said the land was not included in the current local plan and was outside recognised development limits.

He said traffic from the proposed homes would exacerbate existing congestion on Bircham Road, particularly around West Somerset College, while students already used Ellicombe Meadow to park their cars.

"The feasibility of heavy construction vehicles and lorries entering the proposed development through an access in Ellicombe Lane needs to be thoroughly investigated before any planning approval is given," he said in his written objection to the proposal.

"The application should be refused until such a time, if any,

when an access road can be built off the Bircham Road/Seaward Way roundabout through the land currently occupied by the rugby club."

Fellow opponents Elsa and Guy Padfield, of Heather Close, wrote: "Why is this extra development being considered now when it was turned down approximately 20 years ago? What's changed?

"There's more traffic, more houses built nearby, less jobs and industry and the schools aren't much larger.

"These houses are not being built for altruistic reasons but for profit only, and this will not stay in our community and be used to enhance our town and its surrounding environs."

Consultants acting on behalf of Strongvox said they had kept local residents informed of the plans, both in writing and by holding two meetings at the nearby college.

They said the developer had specifically amended the plans in direct response to the concern of neighbours, including the proposal to use Ellicombe Lane for construction traffic to keep large lorries away from the existing residential estate.

A mix of house types had also been introduced, including bungalows, which in turn had been located to reduce the impact on existing properties.

"It is fair to say that the majority of residents who recorded their views had an 'in principle' objection towards this site being developed for housing use," the consultants, Consensus, said.

"Many pointed out that they had retired to the area and had not anticipated that the site would come forward for development.

"Clearly, it is for West Somerset Council's planning committee to decide whether or not the site is suitable for the form of development proposed."

In the application to the district council - which could be discussed by planning committee members next month - another firm of consultants acting on behalf of Strongvox said they were confident the development would be "in harmony" with the adjoining estate at Ellicombe Meadow.

"The basic design principle adopted for the site has been to provide a residential development which will echo the form, character and detailing of the adjoining residential properties off Ellicombe Meadow to create local distinctiveness and a strong sense of identity within the development," Jubb Consulting Engineers said.

"The proposed heights reflect the scale of the adjoining Ellicombe Meadow residential estate which contains a mixture of both single and two storey properties.

"The scale of the development proposed will thus not adversely impact upon neighbouring properties or the character and appearance of the locality."