PLANS to build up to 250 new homes in Watchet have been met with scepticism by residents during a public consultation.

Developer Summerfield Homes held a public consultation at Watchet's Phoenix Centre on Monday evening where many residents cited concerns with road safety and traffic, as well as the town's ability to cope with the additional population.

The plan is to build up to 250 homes on the Liddymore Farm site, which has been identified by the district council as a key area for development in its Local Plan.

But speaking to residents in attendance, it was clear the proposal was not being welcomed with open arms.

Lesley Abbott-Garner of Cherry Tree Way said: "I am not against the initial plans but there is no real infrastructure for the community proposed.

"We are already oversubscribed at the doctors surgery. There is only one entrance way, and that being so close to the school is a major concern. They say they can adapt the road but it is potentially dangerous.

"If you have 250 homes, you could have up to 750 people – where are they all going to work? We have already lost the Paper Mill and there are not many jobs in the town.

"That means they will be commuting and that is a lot of extra cars going up and down Liddymore Road, which is already very busy at school time."

Karen Hill of Woodland Road, who attended the consultation event with her husband Daniel, said: "I think it is overdevelopment. We already have houses going in at Channel View and the third phase of that is still to come.

"There does not seem to be any enough provision for facilities. There is no plan for any extra shops and I don’t know if Knights Templar will be able to take that many extra children.

"Another problem is the access – it is very close to the school which could be dangerous, and if they do connect the road at the other end of the estate to Doniford Lane it is a potential rat run."

However Summerfield Homes managing director Richard Mead said the company had been talking with the Highways authority and directly with the school and was confident the concerns could be addressed.

"We have had a lot of questions regarding the road access and school capacity. We have consulted with the concerned parties and found no significant issues but we will go back and asked for these issues to be looked at in more detail," Mr Mead said.

"It is certainly possible some alterations could be made before the outline application is submitted. We are not working to a strict deadline

"There is not a strict deadline we are working to for the application, it will go in when it is ready. This is a site which has been recommended for development by the district council, it is going to happen but we want it to be as good as it can be for Watchet.

"Often with larger developments people do not want it next to them but we are in the middle of a housing crisis.

"The Paper Mill was not that large an employer toward the end, and with the changing workforce many people can work on the move with a laptop or in their own homes."