TOWN councillors and local residents are strongly opposed to a plan to build 29 homes on land at Popes Lane, Rockwell Green.

Wellington Town Council agreed at its January meeting to recommend Taunton Deane Borough Council to refuse permission for Wain Homes to put up a mixture of one- to four-bedroom homes.

The town council is against the scheme because it is not included in the current housing development plan for the area, the access is inadequate, it will have an adverse drainage and flooding impact on neighbouring properties, reduce the green wedge, harm wildlife and set a precedent for future development in the area.

Cllr Andrew Govier said the project had been pushed in at the last minute just before Christmas by the developers without any proper consultation. It should be refused as it was premature and sufficient housing land had been allocated in the Wellington area up until 2028. It was a dozen years before additional allocations in the town would be needed.

Cllr John Thorne said he was concerned about possible flooding and the intrusion into open countryside. If it was approved there would be a domino affect leading to development all the way out to the relief road. Even more vehicles would be using Popes Lane which already carried 1,000 daily.

Seventeen residents attended the meeting to protest against scheme. Mr Kym Sanders, Gordon Hawker, Bill Lintonbon, Mike Sampson and John Short all objected because they felt it would lead to hundreds more houses being built on the two fields to the west of Popes Lane.

Councillors were told that 22 letters of objection had been sent to Taunton Deane which will make the final decision.

Wellington mayor Bob Bowrah urged objectors to make sure they attended the Deane meeting to make clear to Deane councillors their opposition to the proposals.

n USING its delegated planning powers the town council approved the following applications: Erection of a front ground floor extension and installation of window to the first floor south-west elevation at 25 Birch Road, Wellington; erection of single-storey extension and installation of two roof lights to the rear of 4 Farthings Pitts, Foxdown Hill, Wellington.