ILMINSTER NEWS: Winterhay Lane housing plans could lead to a terrible tragedy

THERE are fears that somebody could be tragically killed in a traffic accident if plans for a housing development on land off Winterhay Lane in Ilminster get the final go-ahead.

Members of Ilminster Town Council’s planning, highways and transport committee met on Tuesday (February 6, 2018) evening and were deeply concerned about plans being put forward by Woodsome Estates for a 72-home – which could also rise to 91 – on the former Powrmatic Ltd site in Winterhay Lane opposite the Daido factory.

And resident Gwyneth Linley warned if the development was given the go-ahead it would be a “tragedy waiting to happen.”

“I am extremely concerned about the traffic issues on Winterhay Lane,” she said. “There are problems with car parking and lorries coming in and out of Daido and there have been many near head-on crashes.

“The road becomes so busy at around 4.30pm and we’re talking about a possible 100 or so extra cars coming in and out.

“Unless there is something done about the road there will be a tragic accident.”

Cllr Julie Fowler said there would be terrible traffic problems at the junction of Winterhay Lane and Station Road and said that the road needed to be improved for the increase in traffic.

“Will action only be taken when there is a fatal accident?” she asked.

An initial application for 72 homes and 600 square metres of office space for business use was first agreed by South Somerset District Council back in January 2015 – although the plans had originally been submitted in December 2013.

The plans include eight one-bedroom flats, 25 two-bedroom, 37 three-bedroom and two four-bedroom properties along with a total of 143 car parking spaces.

PHOTO - RIGHT: There are real concerns that this narrow road leading to Daido will not be able to cope with a housing development as well.

The applicants are now looking to get approval for some “reserved matters” to be addressed with respect to design, layout, plot boundaries, materials and landscaping.

The earmarked site had previously been home for industrial sheds associated with Powrmatic, but were demolished when the company relocated to nearby Hort Bridge in 2007.

But the applicants have also submitted a second application asking for a further 19 homes to be built on the site – in place of the intended employment/office space with little interest having apparently been shown by businesses.

The Mayor of Ilminster, Cllr Val Keitch, said she had “major concerns” about the applications and would – if given the go-ahead – cause a “great deal of consternation.”

“We need far more details about traffic and parking,” she said. “In the afternoon you will have parents coming home from school with children and workers leaving work at Daido and there will be problems.”

Cllr Julie Fowler said there would be terrible traffic problems at the junction of Winterhay Lane and Station Road and said that the road needed to be improved for the increase in traffic.

“Will action only be taken when there is a fatal accident?” she asked.

Cllr Roger Swann said he was disappointed that the plans for “employment land” had been pushed aside.

Councillors recommended that both applications submitted for the site should be refused permission with concerns over density, traffic, loss of employment land, public safety and harmful impact on existing businesses.

Final decisions on the applications will be made at a later date by South Somerset District Council.

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