WHEN promoters submitted their two schemes for over 1,600 houses (at Staplegrove) to Taunton Deane Borough Council earlier this year, they would have expected some objections and maybe a few questions from consultees. 

However, I doubt whether they expected the number and breadth of objections, nor the quality of research undertaken by the two residents’ groups, WARG and RoSAG.

Initially, the majority of objections were around the size of the schemes, traffic implications along unsuitable roads and the increased risk of flooding. 

These objections have been given added weight, because both Highways and the Environment Agency are concerned about the lack of detail/modelling. 

In addition the promoters have ignored Taunton Deane’s councillors resolution of being unable to support direct access onto (and officers request to avoid) Manor Road / Corkscrew Lane, where incredibly they are proposing four estates comprising around 400 houses.

As more and more people have become aware of the proximity of the schemes to the Quantocks, concerns have risen about how they would sit in the landscape. 

Since then, Taunton Deane’s Landscape Officer has described the impact on character as “High Adverse” and listed 14 concerns, ranging from the scale of development to removal of hedgerows and trees; and from not respecting the green wedge to “reducing the buffer between the AONB boundary at Kingston St Mary (Gateway to the AONB) and the urban area of Taunton”. 

The Quantocks Hills AONB have also listed a number of serious concerns and states that the schemes are contrary to the Vision of Taunton in the adopted Core Strategy - “What will be a total change of character from an agricultural to urban / suburban environment threatens the quality of the landscape that currently offers a comfortable transition between the nationally protected landscape and the county town of Taunton.”

Over the past few years, there has been well above average house building in and around Taunton, and more are in the pipe-line or have outline planning approval.

Now, Taunton Deane’s Core strategy appears hopelessly out of date, as all the “key drivers” are going in the wrong direction. 

Taunton has an above average number of people being employed by government organisations. 

As we are seeing, these organisations are all employing fewer people and plan to further reduce their workforces. 

Shopping has for decades been one of the main drivers of the Taunton economy. The internet has led to a paradigm shift in the way that people obtain goods, and it is almost certain that further shrinkage of the shopping footfall will impact employment. Is relying on a dramatic increase in inward migration of wealthier retired people and Taunton becoming evermore a dormitory town either realistic, desirable or sensible?

In her ‘Westminster Diary’ in the Gazette, Rebecca Pow MP has written that “art is key to town growth” and the need for a “University of Somerset...(where) developing niche areas would be crucial...”

I agree but this will not happen overnight. Granting planning permission for irresponsibly sited out of scale developments, so close to the Quantocks, that would only add to the gridlock of our county town will certainly not help.

DAVID LAUSEN
Staplegrove