CONTENTIOUS plans to dual the A358 between Taunton M5 and Ilminster A303 will increase traffic fumes and exacerbate and increase ill health amongst children, according to one councillor.

Taunton Deane's Halcon ward councillor Tim Slattery said he was "appalled" to read about the proposed plans and believes attempts have been made to suppress democratic debate on the subject.

Cllr Slattery said: "This motorway extension will increase traffic levels, thus increasing air pollution which will have a detrimental effect on the community, local schools and green spaces."

He said he would be fighting for the retention of the Blackbrook Sports Centre and the surrounding playing fields, which are earmarked to be bulldozed in the current plans.

Cllr Slattery said: "The motorway extension development is likely to have an environmental impact of major significance. This would mainly be attributable to significant impacts on the local community and internationally protected species in the Blackbrook habitat."

And Taunton Deane MP Jeremy Browne is urging the residents of Blackbrook and Holway to make their views known at a public meeting today (Thursday).

Mr Browne said: "The Highways Agency and Taunton Deane Council should not have been working together on this scheme without consulting the local residents who live nearby.

"The A358 is a congested and dangerous road and I believe it should be improved.

"But there are many options that deserve serious consideration.

"Taking the northbound traffic under the M5 would be the least disruptive to the local community. That is said to be impractical, but the roundabout runs under the M5 at Junction 25, which is less than half-a-mile away.

"Other options to be discussed include feeding the new road into Junction 25 or taking the northbound traffic off the M5 slightly earlier and using a bridge that does not require an enormous loop.

Read the full story in this week's Somerset County Gazette