“I HAVE never seen such an insidious mess as what we see now.”

These were the words of Councillor Nigel Hewitt-Cooper at the Mendip District Council (MDC) meeting last night (December 3), after discussion surrounding social housing plans for Easthill in Frome descended into chaos.

Cllr Tom Killen proposed a motion which stated “full council requests the Cabinet not to proceed with the transfer of the Easthill site in Frome to Aster and to cease any plans to develop the site”.

He also requested that the transfer of the other sites – Cemetery Lane and Cranhill Car Park in Street and Norbins Road Car Park in Glastonbury - were also put “on pause”.

But Roy Pinney from Shape Legal, who provides legal services to the council, said there were legal issues with the wording of Cllr Killen’s motion.

Much of the meeting was focused on the legal implications of the motion, however some councillors were keen to bring the debate back to the social housing plans.

Cllr Janine Nash said: “It seems this whole thing has descended into a debate of social hosing vs. climate. I want to be clear I do want social housing built.

“We have to balance our ecology and our corporat priorities. I need a legitamate forum where I can properly express the views of my ward.

“I understand that the motion may not be legal, but we need a way forward where the Full Council can come to an agreement and bring something back to a subsequent council meeting that we can all vote on and move forward.

“I need to be able to reassure my residents that the pause is permenant and that we are going to look at this properly and make the right decision.”

MDC concluded they would decide on a clearer motion to put forward to full council at their next meeting on December 14.

The scheme to provide 160 affordable houses across the four council-owned sites was backed by members of MDC's Cabinet at a meeting on November 2.

But the council’s scrutiny board asked the cabinet to think again – with the chairman of scrutiny resigning in protest at the lack of transparency surrounding the decision.

READ MORE: Council asked to rethink social housing plans for Frome

And at a meeting of MDC’s full council on November 26, a decision was made to “pause” the plans for Easthill.

READ MORE: Council pauses social housing plans for Easthill in Frome

The plan for this Open Area of Local Significance (OALS) site, with a wealth of endangered species and mature trees, has caused outrage among people in Frome.

READ MORE: Residents object to Easthill in Frome social housing plans

Bharati Pardhy, a resident of Easthill who overlooks the site, said: “It would be an utter tragedy to lose this beautiful place.

“We’ve found comfort in nature during the lockdown. Easthill is just so beautiful and it gives so much nourishment to people.

“When people bury their loved ones in the cemetery, they look up to see this beautiful view.

“It is beautiful and it encourages us to feel and think the best about the world.”

A Facebook group has been set up to raise awareness of the site, if you would like to join, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/744405966156374