Travellers' site home agreed despite fears - Somerset

From the Western Gazette

PLANS to extend a Travellers' site near Somerton have been approved despite concerns from the town council and residents.

South Somerset District Council have given the green light for a mobile home to built at land off Langport Road in Catsgore.

Approval of the application also gave permission for a touring caravan to be positioned at the site.

This is in addition to a mobile home and a touring caravan already in place at the site.

Somerton Town Council had recommended refusal of the plans on the grounds of over development, and eight objection letters from residents were received by the district council.

A letter from resident Marion Draper said: "I cannot help feeling that there are not strong enough safeguards against this site being developed yet further at a later date. We were told originally that there would only be the one application.

"What will prevent the next application and the next and the next?"

She also called for a 40 mile per hour limit to be put in force on Langport Road.

District councillor Pauline Clark raised concerns at the Area North committee meeting last week when the plans were approved.

She said the application would change the character of the area.

Councillor Sue Steele also raised concerns that there was no limit on the number of vehicles that could park at the site.

She added: "It seems that the applicants change what they want every time we get an application.

"At first they told us it wouldn't be developed further because they wanted their own space, but now there's another unit wanting to go in there."

But the committee agreed to give the go ahead.

Councillor Shane Pledger said: "I can't see what difference another unit is going to make there, I can't think of a better spot for it."

Councillor Sylvia Seal agreed and said the site was an "ideal location" for the plans.

Wessex Water and Somerset County Council's Highways officers also had no concerns about the application.