Mar 23

Mar 23 North Somerset village to expand by 60%

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Around 150 people packed into the Backwell Parish Hall in North Somerset to question plans by North Somerset Council to build 1,120 new homes in the village by 2038.

The Government has set a target for 20,085 new homes to be built in North Somerset over that time period and North Somerset has a plan out for consultation identifying where these houses should be.

Land earmarked around Backwell includes areas currently in the Green Belt and some areas currently used as agricultural land to grow food.

Three local organisations: Backwell Parish Council, Backwell Residents Association and Backwell Resistance led the quizzing of council officials who came up with the plans.

They were told that Backwell was chosen to increase by 60% because the officials said it had good links and could be expanded in a sustainable way. Local people argued that infrastructure, including new roads, schools and a doctors surgery and major improvements to the railway station would need to be made before houses could be built.

Some of those attending the meeting had earlier been giving their views to a Planning Inquiry at Weston Town Hall into plans for 125 houses on Farleigh Fields. These would be in addition to the sites earmarked by North Somerset Council if given the go ahead.

Local people said the plans could cause traffic issues on the A370 and other parts of the village. They cited accidents and traffic jams close to the new junction that Persimmon would like to create on the A370 by demolishing two homes to give them access to build a housing estate in the farm fields.

A traffic specialist brought in by Persimmon Homes said the new development would not cause any traffic issues. He said traffic had decreased in recent years on the A370. He admitted he based his conclusion on Backwell figures from 2014 and he had googled figures for another village – Flax Bourton – to come to his conclusion.

Details of how people in North Somerset can have their say on the plans can be found at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/newlocalplan. Backwell Parish Council are collecting views by email at clerk@backwell-pc.gov.uk.