Chard homes plans on show (From Yeovil Express)

Chard homes plans on show

11:10am Saturday 2nd June 2012 in News

DEVELOPERS are delighted that more than 100 people attended an exhibition on Saturday to view plans for a major new housing development on the outskirts of Chard.

Morrish Builders is hoping to build 90 houses east of Oaklands Avenue, off Crewkerne Road, at a site called Oakwood.

The Poole-based company’s sales and marketing manager, Tim Bishop, was encouraged so many people attended the four-hour exhibition at the Guildhall to discuss issues and highlight concerns.

He said: “The whole point of this exhibition is to interact with the community and it has certainly served its purpose.

“We will look at the details of the comments people have made and evaluate them and then go back to South Somerset District Council and see what changes could be made.”

Mr Bishop added: “We have had some positive comments and it was good to hear that they knew of us as a company and had liked the work we had done in Chard before.

“We have obviously had comments about the density being too big and concerns about the impact it will have on the existing community as well.”

One person concerned about the possible development was Liz Taylor, of Furnham Road, Chard, who said: “I think this will have an impact on the area.”

It is expected that there will also be fears about wildlife with the site close to the nature reserve at Chard Reservoir, although Mr Bishop said a full evaluation had already been carried out.

He said he was hopeful the Oaklands community would get together and form some sort of group which could meet with Morrish on a regular basis in the future.

The council’s area development manager, Andrew Gillespie, told the News it was good to give people an opportunity to comment on the proposals at an early opportunity.

Council officials have indicated that the scheme could be – as reported in last week’s News – the first part of the jigsaw for Chard’s future growth.