RESIDENTS in Minehead and the surrounding area are being urged to speak out and join more than 230 people who have already lodged objections to plans for a roadside service station off the A39 Ellicombe roundabout just outside the town.
Dorset-based Forelle Estates Ltd wants to build a petrol filling station with a Costa coffee drive-thru, a convenience store, and an electric vehicle (EV) charging hub.
The company said the town did not have enough fast charging stations and could lose out on visitors who would go elsewhere without better EV facilities.
But, members of a residents group opposing the scheme said the company’s claims appeared to be misleading and manipulative.
Sarah and Josh Stanbury, who live in Ellicombe, said the greenfield site being looked at by Forelle was unsuitable for such a commercial enterprise ‘for a myriad of reasons’.
They said 235 objections had been received by Somerset Council’s planning department since the company’s planning application was published in February.
Mr and Mrs Stanbury said: “However, we need more local people to say ‘no’ to the absurd proposal of a service station, convenience store, and coffee shop in this location.
“Apart from the fact the proposed development on the A39 site contravenes several planning policies, there is growing concern locally that both members of the public and the local planning authority could be manipulated by a large commercial developer.”
They said it seemed some of the 100-plus letters of support for the project may have been submitted unwittingly by people who were not actually in favour, because of the way a social media advertisement was designed.
A computer generated video showing how the roadside service station could look.
The company’s bespoke website explaining its ‘exciting plans for new EV charging hub in Minehead’ was pre-loaded with a statement reading ‘I support Forelle Estates application for Minehead EV Hub!’ and only allowed users to click through by using a ‘support’ button.
Mr and Mrs Stanbury said: “As such, whether individuals intended so or not, support has been gained from 108 people, from as far away as Derby.”
They pointed to inconsistent information such as advertising referring to eight ultra fast chargers and three traditional fuel pumps and a small shop, when the planning statement included six fast chargers, 12 fuel pumps, and ‘more significantly, two large retail outlets’.
The couple said: “This application is nothing more than poorly disguised ‘greenwashing’ by a commercial developer attempting to capitalise on the opportunity of adding a nominal number of fast EV charging points to secure extensive, highly profitable retail and fuel outlets through the local planning department.
“As local people know, we already have a fuel station within half-a-mile of the proposed site, and another just 300 metres further on.
“The third closest fuel station is just one mile away.
“These facilities are always available with no queues at the pumps.
“Similarly, there are already sufficient fast EV charge points in the area to comfortably meet demand.
“Should there be increased demand in the future, not only is there potential at other existing sites in the area, but Butlin’s Minehead will likely provide these for their visitors as they have already done at Butlin’s Skegness.
“This is nothing more than a trojan horse and a disguise to further maximise revenue for their proposed retail outlets.”
Derek Merson, who lives in Ellicombe with his wife Carole, said: “Having lived directly opposite the site for 35 years and in the area all my life, I know this is not the right site for a service station and drive-thru coffee shop.”
Mr Merson said the A39 was already under strain from the number of vehicles using it and Ellicombe Lane, which used to be the main road, had long since been by-passed because it was unsuitable for such volumes of traffic and was now mainly used by pedestrians as a safe link between Minehead and Dunster, dog walkers accessing the hills, and young people going to Minehead Rugby Club.
He said traffic using the proposed service station would be a ‘significant danger’ for people whom he allowed to use his field opposite the site for rugby training.
Another problem in the area was water run-off, with the site already frequently flooding, which would become worse if it was filled with concrete.
Mr Merson said: “Furthermore, given the site is located at the gateway to Exmoor National Park, this area is recognised for its natural beauty and as such a planning application was previously refused on our land by an inspector through a planning appeal, for that very reason.”
White Lodge Equine Clinic director Tom Gliddon said: “The effects of a development like this neighbouring our equine clinic and farm practice would be unimaginable.
“Given that we care for sick and injured horses and farm animals, animal welfare would be greatly compromised by the associated noise and light pollution.”
Mr Gliddon said the veterinary practice converted and improved existing agricultural buildings about 10 years ago to allow it to be established and had to install a balancing pond to mitigate run-off, which invariably filled up when it rained.
He said it was therefore likely significant flooding would be caused by concreting over further grassland.
David and Leo Noad, who also live in Ellicombe, said there were already traffic issues on the roundabout with a four-hour tailback on one recent weekend which saw emergency vehicles having to use the wrong side of the road to get through.
They said: “This will only get worse if this development is allowed to go ahead.
“There would also be a need to upgrade the roundabout, widen the roads, and remove hedgerows, etc.
“The claim that the development will generate jobs is dubious, as these will merely be at the sacrifice of job losses in the existing numerous shops, coffee shops, and eateries within Minehead and Dunster.
“A development like this would only deter visitors going into these centres, and already struggling independent coffee shops will lose business to a drive-through Costa.”