Frome locals concerned about new housing development proposal
Residents say developers are ‘shunning health for concrete and greed’ after a formal application was submitted to build over a hundred new homes in the area
Frome locals and councillors have criticised plans from a developer to build 150 homes on the western side of Marston Lane, just off the busy B3090 Marston Road.
They say that the development from Gleeson Strategic Land Ltd, would cause extra traffic and lead to the loss of valuable green spaces.
Residents feel that the push for new homes is “shunning health for concrete and greed”.
As part of Gleeson’s formal proposal four new access roads onto Marston Lane would have to be built.
This would include one directly opposite the Mason Way and the B3090 junction.
Although 45 of the homes would be affordable - meeting Mendip District Council targets, some, like Caroline Hadfield are concerned about the increased traffic and stress on Frome’s existing services.
“Marston Lane would struggle to cope with the extra traffic caused by between 150 and 300 extra cars, based on each property having one or two cars, which is normal these days.
She added, “The local infrastructure of schools, doctors, dentists etc. are already struggling with the amount of people in Frome, and the extra numbers brought in by this development would push this even further.”
While councillor Damon Hooton has demanded the plans should come before the council for a final decision.
He said, “I am against this proposed development on several policy grounds. I want this application to be determined by the planning board”.
Mark Leary, who lives in Frome said that the health and well-being of people in the town would be affected because of the removal of ‘greenfield sites’.
Greenfield sites are those that have never been built on, such as the area on the western side of Marston Lane.
Mr. Leary said: “Removing greenfield sites – which allow everyone of any income or social standing to be able to reset their mental state – seems a ludicrous decision.”
“There has to be a balance between occupancy and nature, and it appears Frome is desperate to get that balance very wrong and shun health for concrete and greed.”
The developer has had mixed success in securing permission to build in Somerset, having lost recent proposals to build new homes in Wells and Templecombe.
Their plans would be part of a wider proposals for the development of sites on Frome’s southern edge.