CAMPAIGNERS against a massive housing development planned for Wellington have started a petition.

Hundreds of people are lobbying against a project which could see 900 homes, a primary school and new link road built at Jurston Farm.

So far, the online petition has attracted more than 320 signatures calling on Taunton Deane Council to reject plans when they are formally submitted later this year.

Town and county councillor Ross Henley, who started the petition, said: “These plans will cause terrible traffic problems and destroy our green wedge in Wellington east.

“To use Beech Hill and Laburnum Road as access to a new estate is nonsense.

“Wellington is already having Longforth Farm and Cades Farm developed, so developing Jurston is not needed.”

CG Fry & Son is currently drawing up plans for the development, which is part of the Deane's core strategy to provide a “compact urban extension” east of Wellington.

It held a public exhibition last month and met with more than 200 residents.

Geoff Cross, of Elms Road by Beech Hill, said using that area as through road to the new estate would add to the already-existing traffic problems.

He added: “This is potentially a huge development which could and would create almost another town bolted on to Wellington, but a long way from most of the essential amenities.”

As reported in the County Gazette, some of the 900 houses are already under construction as these make up the second phase of the Cades development.

Around 650 of them are planned for the land around Jurston Farm, with the whole project expected to be phased out between next year and 2030.

David Lohfink, land and planning director at CG Fry & Son, said: “It is fair to say that many people had serious concerns about the principle of the development and matters such as drainage, flooding and traffic.

“However, the consultation was our opportunity to discuss these concerns and let people know the next steps in the process following adoption of Taunton Deane's core strategy.

“While we understand peoples' concerns, they need to bear in mind that the council has allocated the site in its core strategy and the principle of the development is therefore accepted.

“The event did give us lots of food for thought that we will take into account in preparing our outline planning application later this year.”

To view the petition, click here. You can also sign it at Beech Hill Stores and Expressions hairdressers next door.