CAMPAIGNERS have reacted with joy to the refusal of plans for 250 homes to be built in the countryside outside Wellington.

Somerset Council on Thursday (April 30) turned down a planning application by Pegasus Group to build 250 houses in fields around Middle Green Farm.

Planning officer Karen Wray said the site was in open countryside with no connections to the town itself and would spoil the setting of Wellington Monument.

Campaign group Protect Wellington was set up to fight the proposal and held two mass rallies and a march attended by hundreds of local residents.

A Protect Wellington spokesperson said the group was ‘delighted’ when the Wellington Weekly broke the news of the planning rejection.

They said the decision was a ‘hugely positive outcome’ for a local community which had consistently raised concerns about the scale of the proposed development and its potential impact on local infrastructure, traffic, the environment, and the character of Wellington.

The spokesperson said: “We are absolutely delighted with Somerset Council’s decision to refuse this application.

“This is a victory for residents who have worked tirelessly to ensure local concerns were heard.

“We remain committed to protecting Wellington from inappropriate large-scale developments that do not adequately consider the needs of our town and its existing infrastructure.

“We would like to thank local residents, supporters, and all those who submitted comments and objections throughout the planning process.”

The group was supported by Wellington Town Council and Wellington Without Parish Council, which both also strongly objected to the Pegasus plans.