OBJECTORS to the draft West Somerset Local Plan will have a second chance to make their views known after the first preliminary meeting was swamped by people wanting to have their say.

Inquiry programme officer Peter Pritchard said a second preliminary meeting would be held in February and the inquiry start date put back to the end of March in order to deal with all the objections.

He said: "The additional preliminary meeting is being held to assist those who were unaware of the original meeting held on December 19 or were unable to attend because of short notice.

"This meeting will help the inspector and all interested parties to prepare for the inquiry."

The decision will be welcome news for many Williton residents who had argued that they simply did not have enough time to voice their concerns over West Somerset District Council's proposals to build 200 new homes in the village.

Now they, and everyone else who did not attend the first preliminary meeting, will be able to go along to the St John Ambulance Brigade Hall, in North Street, Minehead, on Friday, February 2, to register their objections.

People who have already registered their views at the first meeting do not have to attend the second meeting. However, anyone wanting to have their objections to any aspect of the local plan taken into account at the main inquiry must attend February's meeting.

The main inquiry, which will also be held in the St John Ambulance Brigade Hall, will now start on April 24 and is expected to last five weeks.

The first inquiry session from April 24 to 26 is due to deal with housing supply and settlement policy. The second from May 9 to 17 will cover all other aspects of the local plan except allocated housing sites. The final sessions from June 5 to 14 will be dedicated to allocated sites, including the controversial Williton estate plan.

Both February's preliminary meeting and the main inquiry on April 24 will start at 10am.