'We're not anti-development', say Milverton residents (From Somerset County Gazette)

'We're not anti-development', say Milverton residents

6:20pm Tuesday 7th August 2012 in News By Michael Marsh

Michael Reynolds, of SMAG

AN action group set up to challenge plans for a controversial expansion at Creedwell Orchard say they are hopeful an agreement can be reached with developers.

Michael Reynolds, of Save Milverton Action Group, has claimed they are not ‘anti-development’ and residents could come to terms with an expansion – but only if developers Notaro drastically reduce their proposals for 72 houses.

Mr Reynolds said: “After a survey, some people were very happy to have some development and others didn’t want to have any at all.

“We aren’t against development – if the developers came forward and proposed to build 30 houses with half-a-dozen of those affordable houses then that might be a way forward. I think a lot of people would be quite happy with a development of between 20-30 houses.”

Many residents were left unhappy after Notaro’s consultation period, claiming the developers didn’t take into account the wishes of the village.

But Notaro said residents had the chance to air their views at a public exhibition, and added: “Sooner or later we’ll need to get together and discuss a way forward.

“People are getting frustrated and we need to show how beneficial the development could be. We are at different ends of the scale at the moment.”