MINEHEAD residents opposing an application to build five luxury homes in a conservation area on Beacon Road, North Hill, have been urged by a protest action group to register their objections with West Somerset Council planners before tomorrow's deadline - Tuesday, March 26).

This follows last week’s decision by council planners to approve a two-house development on Beacon Road.

A protest group spokesman said: “This was done by a ‘delegated authority’ which meant it didn’t go to a full planning committee despite being in a conservation area and there being more than 12 public objections.

“The precedent has now been set for the gradual development of North Hill. The five-house application is still to be decided and, although there is overwhelming public opposition, the developer can now argue that if someone can build two houses, five more is immaterial.”

Plans for the five homes were unanimously opposed by Minehead Town Council’s planning committee at its last meeting.

Councillors were told the development would involve felling more than 40 mature trees. There were over 100 online objections to the scheme and over 200 signatures on a petition.

The protestors’ spokesman added that granting planning permission for the two houses was “a very sad day for Minehead, for local democracy, and for the environment."