Weycroft residents say they feel 'ignored' amid plans for 140 new houses

Residents of the Weycroft area of Axminster said they felt "disregarded, disenfranchised and ignored",  as they spoke out against plans for a new residential estate of up to 140 houses. 

Proposals have been submitted to East Devon District Council, comprising an outline planning application for up to 140 new houses, 0.8 hectares of employment land and a children's play area, and a detailed planning application for a new floodlit training pitch at the adjoining Axminster Town Football Club, with drainage improvements and ball-stop netting.

The proposed site for the new housing development adjoins Chard Road to the north of the town, bar Weycroft, and is currently comprised of three fields in arable use. 

Between the two southern fields is the current access to Axminster Town Football Club – known as Tiger Way. As part of the development, this access road would be closed and new access to the housing development and through to the club would be created further north off the A358.

Several residents attended last week's meeting of Axminster Town Council to speak against the plans, with concerns including road safety, flooding, environmental effects on wildlife, the River Axe and the loss of open green spaces. 

One resident said that those living in the Weycroft area felt completely "disregarded, disenfranchised and ignored" and called for the town council to stand up against development of this area. 

Several residents raised concerns about flooding in the area, with previous severe flash flooding having caused tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage to Weycroft properties. 

Objectors said they believed the issue of flooding had become worse in recent years due to the development of Axminster, with natural soakaways being concreted over to create more housing and industrial units. 

One resident said that "it will take someone dying in a flash flood for this issue to be recognised".

Residents also raised concerns about a potential increase in traffic if the proposed development was to go ahead, with questions raised over whether the ancient Weycroft bridge could withstand more heavy vehicles during construction.

Concerns over pedestrian safety and speeding in the area were also raised, as well as heavy traffic congestion which residents said had led to some from Weycroft missing doctor and hospital appointments because they could not get out of their properties.

Other residents raised issue with the impact further development could have on the River Axe, after Natural England last year advised that any new developments in the Axe catchment area should be 'nutrient neutral', due to the high level of phosphates in the river. 

The development would include an onsite community treatment plant that would treat effluent, along with other mitigation measures to to minimise further phosphates being released into the River Axe, but residents said this was not good enough. 

One objector commented: "Nutrient neutrality is very much in its infancy and I don't think we know all the facts about it.For the River Axe to be restored, we need a reduction of nutrients, not neutrality, so the whole thing is flawed from the start.

"Without good river health, all our nature suffers, including human beings, and that seems to be forgotten when developers come along and say they want more housing.

"There is no benefit to this other than lining pockets of developers."

The application says the development will "positively contribute to the growth of the local economy by providing new homes", including much-needed affordable homes. It will also create new jobs throughout the construction period and through the designated employment land.

Having listened to the concerns, town councillors unanimously agreed to object to the proposals. East Devon District Council will make a final decision on the plans, which can be viewed on the East Devon District Council website by searching reference number 23/0685/MOUT.