Locals fear new homes near Mendip Hills lack road safety. Parish council voices concerns about dangers to children.
The Church Commissioners talked to the parish council. They discussed building homes since 2022. The location is Roughmoor Lane, west of St. Lawrence’s Church.
Plans were revealed in February 2023. By December 2024, the council voiced safety concerns, saying kids would face “serious danger.” The new plans include 60 homes and a community hub.
These plans went public in January. People can share their opinions now, and the council will decide by year’s end. The parish council wants a delay to ensure safe routes into the village first. They feel ignored so far.
The village is near Mendip Hills, on the A371 between Cheddar and Wells. The building site was already chosen in December 2021. Officials thought 40 homes fit the area and knew traffic would be a problem. Access to the A371 needs careful review.
The Church Commissioners plan 60 homes; eighteen will be affordable houses. Pedestrians can reach the recreation ground, and a community space is planned eastward. Paths will connect homes to village routes.
Roughmoor Lane will change for site access, looping onto Stoke Road near a bus stop. The current Roughmoor Lane entrance will close. The architects claim it’s a safer connection and provides space for a community green area.
The architects claim the plans fit the village and respect the village’s look and feel. The parish clerk shared local worries on the council’s planning website. They wanted safe pedestrian access to the village from the start.
She objects because safety data is missing, saying they asked for the data but received no good reason. She wants solutions before any decisions and the parish council must agree with highway plans.
She spoke at a council meeting before, asking to meet with officials. She wants planning and highways to work together for the best outcome for the community, noting that other councils have similar problems.
Another person spoke at the same meeting, noting the route through the village is unsafe. They want to create a neighborhood plan due to many narrow bends with bad visibility.
Sixty houses are planned across from key places like the school, pub, shop, and post office. The A371 has many bends and few pavements, connecting Cheddar and Wells.
A path between the towns is being built. The Strawberry Line opened in September 2023, running from Westbury to Easton, and they are now extending the route towards Wells. The council’s transport plan supports trails and a traffic-free Strawberry Line.
A councillor agreed to meet the parish council. He felt waiting for the application was better.
The council will decide later this year. Then they need to approve the details of the homes, after which construction can begin.