Protect Wellington campaigners encouraged by public interaction at street market

RESIDENTS turned out in large numbers to talk to housing campaign group Protect Wellington (PW) when it held a stall during the town’s quarterly street market.

Housing development was clearly high on the list of local issues for many people.

The Protect Wellington team spent the day talking to residents about the campaign’s position on future housing development in and around the town.

There was considerable interest in the campaign’s view that new housing should be proportional, affordable, located in appropriate areas, with development avoiding productive farmland and sensitive natural environments and taking account of the capacity of local infrastructure.

Residents also shared their views on the wider issues facing Wellington, including roads and traffic congestion, flooding, sewage, healthcare, schools, and the impact of continued housing growth on the character of the town.

PW spokesperson Michael Pollak said: “It was really encouraging to see how engaged people were.

“People clearly have views about the future of Wellington and want to have a say in how the town develops.

“The day was not just about one planning application, it was about starting a wider conversation about what sort of Wellington we want in the future.”

Protect Wellington will be continuing to listen to residents and intends to broaden the campaign’s discussions over the coming months and update Wellington residents via its Facebook page.

The community group was founded by residents opposed to plans for 250 houses to be built on agricultural fields near Middle Green Farm to the south of the town’s A38 relief road.

The proposal by Pegasus Group was eventually refused by Somerset Council, and Pegasus has until October 30 to decide if it wants to take its application to a Planning Inspectorate appeal.

Since then, other plans have started to emerge for a number of housing developments on the edges of the town.