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WEST MONKTON PARISH COUNCIL
Clerk to the Council: Mrs P A Cavill
Hill Farm
West Monkton
Taunton TA2 8LP
Somerset
Mr P Norman
Strategic Planning Service
Environment Department
Somerset County Council
County Hall
Taunton TA1 4DY

24th March 2005

Dear Mr Norman

Regional Spatial Strategy

You will have received already individual representations from Councillors of West Monkton Parish. However, in view of the 1000 homes soon to be built in Monkton Heathfield as a result of the Local Plan, the Parish Council has the following comments that they wish taken into consideration as the Regional Spatial Strategy is formulated.

Regarding the 1000 homes, the Parish Council worked with the developers to achieve the best possible outcome, so that the new homes have the maximum chance of integrating into our community. The Parish Council has measures in place to welcome and integrate the new residents. These efforts will take time to bear fruit.

To expect that this Parish would be prepared to accept a further 3000 homes under the Regional Spatial Strategy, without loss of its own character and integrity, is certainly challenging and is not supported by appropriate infrastructure. Integrated development is essential if mistakes such as Cotford St Luke are not to be repeated.

PUA status will bring advantages to Taunton, but Taunton must be allowed to grow in the round, in a logical and planned way, not to become a linear development stretching from Walford Cross in the East to Rockwell Green in the West. Transport infrastructure is already seriously stretched, so development anywhere must be associated with either a northern or a southern distributor road so that traffic flow from the A358 from Henlade, carrying A303 traffic can easily pass round Taunton, not through it, to rejoin the A358 to Minehead. Similarly the east/west routes along the A38 and the A3259 need to be protected. A southern distributor road would then solve matters of traffic congestion within the town (e.g. Greenway Road would be free to carry the traffic from the northern side of the town). This Council believes that the southern distributor road would be the preferred option in view of the topography. Taunton sits in the Vale of Taunton, with the Quantocks to the north and the Blackdown Hills to the south. Both these ranges are classified AONB, although the Quantocks has the longer history, being the first AONB in England. The area of land between Taunton and the Quantocks is less than the area of land between Taunton and the Blackdowns. Additionally, on the northern side is Hestercombe House. It would seem clear then, that extra homes, businesses etc would fit better to the south.

This Council believes that the motorway can be crossed, as has happened in many other towns up and down the country. To squash all the development to the northern side, in the restricted space between Taunton and the Quantocks is likely to seriously jeopardise Taunton’s status as a major tourist centre, in addition to seriously cramping the provision of appropriate transport infrastructure. To spread the development into the space south of the motorway would allow for considered and well placed planning so that the growth could be managed sympathetically, without becoming intrusive.

Wellington has actively sought to have the houses built in their location, why is this not being given due consideration?

Comments on the options as described in the green booklet.

Option 1a

Regeneration is needed in Comeytrowe, there is no infrastructure. The proposed location of Junction 25a would be close enough to Comeytrowe to support the regeneration through development. Green wedges should be retained, but can be protected by the plan of the development. Comments about the proximity of the motorway are illogical, since Monkton Heathfield, an apparently favoured option, is right beside the motorway. This option represents a logical extension of the Taunton Urban development, business units are already in place along the northern edge of the Motorway at Blackbrook. Unlike some areas considered, this area is not subject to flooding, neither is it part of a flood plain.

Option 1b

Monkton Heathfield will have 1000 plus houses built in it over the next 6–7 years. The Parish Council will work very hard to integrate these houses into the village, whilst retaining the character of the village, resting as it does at the foothills of the Quantocks. The Council believes that the result, if successful, will retain the quality of life for those who live in Monkton Heathfield. To be quickly followed by a further development of 3000 houses has the potential not only to destroy the character of the village but also to jeopardise the quality of life in Monkton Heathfield. The public transport corridor, referred to in the document, would need enormous investment and development to adequately serve the needs of an enlarged community as it scarcely serves the needs of the current population. Despite the traffic and parking problems in Taunton, very few, if any, car-owners in the Parish would eschew their vehicles in favour of the present provision of public transport. The 1000 extra homes will put extra pressure on the Creech Castle junction, already very close to being gridlocked. Arguments in favour of Monkton Heathfield because of existing cycle routes and footpaths are irrelevant as this Council has every confidence that responsible development would ensure such infrastructures were required within any development anywhere. It should be noted that deprived areas are adjacent to the location of the other options, in fact rather closer than the deprived areas quoted as adjacent to Monkton Heathfield. Arguments relating to loss of high-grade agricultural land apply to any option based in the Vale of Taunton since all the high quality land is in the Vale and the poorer land is on the hills bounding the Vale. This is true in any location where a settlement has grown around a river. Hence this Council is of the opinion than some of the arguments put forward in support of option 1b by the Regional Assembly could apply equally well elsewhere. This, and the shortness of the consultation period, gives this Council little confidence that a decision will be made based on a full, objective and comprehensive consideration of all the facts.


Option 2a - not a serious contender surely?

Option 2b

It seems to the Council that this is the most obvious option. This Council does not believe that there would be difficulties of access and separation due to the motorway. Many towns in the country work successfully with a motorway going through them e.g. Leeds, Cardiff, Birmingham; Slough and Windsor not only cope with a motorway, but also the most important airport in the country. The situation would also be supported by the dualling of the A358, which could feed into the southern distributor road. The proposed move of the market to Chelston would benefit from this option, as the associated road structure would allow agricultural traffic to stay off the motorway on busy Saturdays. This option would minimise the gridlock at Creech Castle that will result from the 1000 homes to be built during the next 6–7 years in Monkton Heathfield. Park and Ride south of the motorway would reduce traffic coming in to Taunton from A358/A303. It is known that Park and Ride operates on the motorway at Brent Cross, so transport links to both Wellington and Taunton could be supported this way.

The Parish Council would like to know when the last traffic survey was conducted at Creech Castle? Where are people travelling from, where to, the purpose of their journey, and do they make the journey regularly?

There are industrial use buildings to the north side of the motorway at Blackbrook. There seems little reason why the situation should not be repeated to the southern side. The Council believes that well serviced business parks, close to the motorway would help attract the high prestige businesses to the area, necessary to produce the jobs that will support, and should drive sustainable development.

The Council believes that development in option 2b would not be obtrusive from either the Blackdowns or the Quantocks because the amount of space available would allow for less dense developments with sensitive landscaping. Furthermore, development at this location would avoid the linear development resulting from some of the other options.

West Monkton Parish Council has endeavoured to bring objective considerations to all the options put forward by the Regional Assembly. All the options, as presented, have been studied and discussed. The Parish Council’s track record shows that they are able to embrace change and make the best of it; having enjoyed positive working relations with TDBC Development Control. However, the Parish Council is of the opinion that 3000 more homes under the Regional Spatial Strategy, in addition to the 1000 built under the Local Plan, is unacceptable and would be extremely damaging for the whole community.


Yours sincerely


Patricia A Cavill
Clerk to West Monkton Parish Council

CC West Monkton Parish Councillors
County Cllr E Waymouth
District Cllr N Cavill
District Cllr S Cavill
Chairman Staplegrove Parish Council
Chairman Kingston Parish Council
Chairman Comeytrowe Parish Council
Chairman Cheddon Fitzpaine Parish Council
Rural Development Agency
South West Regional Assembly
ODPM