FEARS over a proposed 330-home development east of Shudrick Lane in Ilminster are expected to be raised at a public meeting tonight (July 8).

Members of the Save Shudrick Valley group are due to attend Ilminster Town Council’s planning meeting at Greenfylde School to voice their concerns over plans submitted by developer CG Fry.

Prior to the meeting, campaigner Rob Drayton said he is deeply concerned over the development and hoped councillors object the plans.

He added: “There are major concerns raised by the Highways Agency for the proposed relief road in the eastern Shudrick Valley planning application.

“As the eastern relief road has only ever been a town council aspiration, it is hoped the council will now see sense and reject this development proposal.

“English Heritage, the district council's conservation officer, their engineer, and the county archaeologist have also made significant objections and observations concerning the development proposals, along with objections from neighbouring parishes which would be affected by the fall-out from the highways proposals.

“All of these bodies have made decisions which seek to protect the town of Ilminster from over development and its consequences.

“It is difficult to understand how the town council's views can differ so widely from that of the experts in all these fields.”

Cllr Andrew Shearman, who chairs the planning committee, said he hopes to see people from both sides at the meeting.

He added: “Everyone is welcome and we will be taking the planning application on its’ own merit.

“We will be making a decision based on the facts that we currently have and if we assume we have not got all the details we may decide to defer the decision as we would on any planning application.”

The meeting is due to start at 7.30pm at Greenfylde First School in Ilminster.