FEARS for children's safety have been voiced at plans for an "industrial estate" on the edge of a housing development.

MASHMRC wants to build four commercial units on land adjacent to the A38 off Hardys Road, Monkton Heathfield.

A planning application with Taunton Deane Borough Council says one occupier would lease one building, while two would contain starter workshops and the fourth would be for Coker Engineering.

Several people have raised concerns, including the size of the scheme, the destruction of open green space and placing a commercial estate where children live and play.

Jade Jones said: "This will cause the area to be diminished and bring down the value of properties in the area.

"It will also cause child endangerment as the proposed industrial properties will mean a lot more traffic flow through the area and as there is a park very close by this will cause a lot of concern for parents and children."

Mark West said: "What is proposed is basically an industrial estate.

"To build this next to so many dwellings is wrong."

Kate Vickery said: "It seems crazy to think the primary school has moved to Bridgwater Road moving free flowing traffic away from this area where small children are walking to and from school and then permission could be granted for a very sizeable commercial estate to be built where these little children live and play."

Adam Perry said: "My understanding is that this is a designated employment site, for which the intention is to provide services that would benefit the local community - not drop an industrial estate in the middle of it."

Chris Fidler said: "The scheme is hugely over-developing the site.

"This is only one phase with more to come, adjacent to a residential area."

Anthony Blackshaw said: "The open green space achieved on this residential development has been a great step forward from what was allowed in other local developments. This proposal flies in the face of that."

A trustee for MASHMRC declined to comment, but the planning application says the proposed development offers "attractive accommodation suitable for a wide range of business types and sizes within this strategic allocated employment site".

It adds: "The future requirements of occupiers have been considered with regards the internal layouts and facilities available.

"The flexible design of the starter workshop units...ensures larger businesses can be accommodated within the site."

It added: "The areas allocated for formal planting will help to soften the impact of the development and create an attractive street scene."

People have until Thursday, November 30 to comment on the application on the council's website.