Town councillors angry at meeting

COUNCILLORS in Wellington are furious with Taunton Deane Borough Council over what they feel is its lack of response to their concerns about delays at the Weavers Arms housing development in Rockwell Green.

The former pub, along with ten council homes, was demolished to make way for 26 new properties well over a year ago – but so far the properties have yet to be completed.

Members of Wellington Town Council were unhappy when they heard last week that frequent attempts to get the latest news on the development had been left unanswered or people at Taunton Deane were too busy to speak with them.

The previous month they had invited Taunton Deane’s portfolio holder for housing services, Cllr Terry Beale, to come and speak with them – but the invitation was ignored.

Cllr Ross Henley added: “A month after we discussed this and we have had no input whatsoever from Cllr Beale or officers from Taunton Deane is very regrettable and very poor.”

Cllr Andy Govier stormed: “It’s completely unacceptable that a portfolio holder can’t respond to our concerns. This has been totally mishandled. It’s unacceptable that we don’t get a response at all from Taunton Deane. I know people are busy and I know they aren’t sat their twiddling their thumbs, but not to hear anything is unacceptable.”

Cllr Mark Lithgow said: “It is a good job the people at Taunton Deane aren’t in charge of breweries because they wouldn’t be able to organise the proverbial!”

He said he hoped his town council colleagues, who are also members of the borough council, would speak up about the issue.

Councillors and members of the public laughed sarcastically when town clerk Greg Dyke told them that despite having had no contact with Cllr Beale he had found some comments made by the portfolio holder within documents for Taunton Deane Borough Council’s full council meeting of October 2 in relation to the Weavers Arms project.

“Despite media reports to the contrary and a lack of support in some quarters excellent work continues on site to deliver the 26 affordable homes planned,” said Cllr Beale in his report. “As always with big developments there have been some delays, mostly due to technical issues with the site which only became apparent when work was under way.

“As stated before it is difficult to definitely give completion dates but we hope to have news in the very near future. I fully support the development team who continue to work closely with the contractor to complete the new homes.”

Cllr Marcus Barr, who, to use the texting phrase LOL’d – Laughed Out Loud – after hearing Cllr Beale’s reported comments, said: “It’s a shambles.”