CAMPAIGNERS are urging people in the Chard area to voice their opposition to a controversial 110-home development at an appeal hearing.

David Wilson Homes lodged an appeal after their application to build on land east of Crimchard was turned down by South Somerset planners last August.

The hearing will start at Chard Guildhall on February 4 and is due to last three to four days.

Members of the Mount Hindrance Action Group, who are working alongside the Cuttifords Door and District Residents Association, are urging anyone to turn up for at least a couple of hours on the first morning and register their views.

Liz Quantrell said: “The MHAG and its active supporters have been working hard for the past 18 months to try to protect the future prosperity of Chard by supporting the Chard Regeneration Scheme and opposing opportunistic applications by greedy developers wishing to build on land in totally unsustainable locations outside the Regeneration Scheme.

“The Chard Eastern Development Area, which is part of the CRS, is nearly ready to begin, but could be jeopardised if the David Wilson development was allowed to proceed. “This would be damaging for the future of Chard.

“The district council’s Area West committee firmly and unanimously rejected the David Wilson application last August, reflecting the deeply felt objections of many, many residents of Chard.

“However, the developer has now taken their case to appeal to try to overturn the decision of our democratically elected councillors.

“We’d encourage everyone who opposes this and any other developments which fall outside the democratically selected Chard Regeneration Scheme to please turn up at the Guildhall at 10am on February 4.

“Even if you can turn up for just half an hour, this would leave the Government planning inspector in no doubt about the depth of public opposition to the application.”

For more information, email the Mount Hindrance Action Group at mounthag@gmail.com or call 01460-239033.