PROPOSALS for nearly 400 new homes in Watchet could bring the town’s infrastructure “to breaking point”, civic leaders warned this week.
Two applications for 250 and 139 houses, apartments and bungalows on near-adjoining greenfield sites on the eastern edge of the town could overwhelm public services and shopping facilities and bring traffic to a standstill, claimed Bob Cramp, chairman-elect of Watchet Conservation Society.
He was reacting to an outline application for 139 homes on land south of Doniford Road and Normandy Avenue, Watchet, which has come less than a month after a similar application for 250 houses at Liddymore Farm from developers Summerfield Homes.
“Who will these houses be for? Most likely for commuters, second home owners and retirees. There’s no work to keep local people here,” he said.
Watchet county councillor Hugh Davies said he was “massively concerned” about the effect the schemes could have on the town: “In its present state, Watchet simply hasn’t got the facilities to cope with such an influx of new people."
The site comprises five fields and part is allocated for the Mount Fields local wildlife site.
The plans include new accesses off Doniford Road, from the north and the south east, and there would be a hilltop park, play space, new open space and tree-planting.
The applicants said: “The design of the scheme will be high quality and the landscape impact has been given careful consideration to ensure the proposals will integrate appropriately with the surrounding landscape.
“The site is well-located in terms of local services and facilities within Watchet itself, which can be accessed directly to the west of the site on foot. Retail facilities are accessible within 1.1km.
“The existing pedestrian link from east to west that runs along Normandy Avenue to the town will also be maintained.”