AS residents of Comeytrowe, we would like to thank our local councillors, Habib Farbahi, Simon Nicholls and Alan Wedderkopp, for standing up for us in fighting the appalling planning application for massive new housing in south-west Taunton.

They have worked with our Residents Action Group and the Parish Council to achieve some improvements to safeguard Comeytrowe from direct access from the new estate, which would cause further congestion locally.

Despite all our efforts, the application was eventually approved with many glaring problems not addressed.

Our councillors also managed to foil an attempt by Taunton Deane Borough Council to stop local residents from expressing their views to the Planning Committee when the application came back to the committee.

This would have been a travesty of democracy!

The application was rushed through by the developer with the connivance of Taunton Deane Planning. 

Local residents, including those on the new estate, will be the losers.

THIRZA ASHELFORD 
On behalf of Comeytrowe Residents’ Action Group