Minutes of the Extra Planning Meeting of Othery Parish Council Monday 11th August 2025 at 7:30 pm

Cllrs Jennings: Graham:

Cllrs Tizzard; Selway: Atherton: Betty: Wright: 20 members of the public.

These will always be declared at the agenda item when appropriate.

Members felt that the poor consultation on line did not take in theeffect on residents in Othery or the need for such a development. The first proposal wasopposed by all and there is little change with this application. Issues like extra trafficon a busy and dangerous road, Noise pollution, Light pollution, Access very poor andunlikely to achieve the visibility splay necessary, The idea of a shop on the site is a redherring as no-one from the village would use it because of the dangers of getting to thesite on foot.

Planning application number: 38/25/00001/POA: Proposal: Outlineapplication for the erection of 1no. Self-build Dwellinghouse: Location: Landto the East of Kingston Farm Lane, Othery, Bridgwater, TA7. On the day of themeeting the clerk received this email: Good-Morning. We have a planningapplication been discussed tonight at your meeting ref Planning application 38/25/00001 – Kingston Farm Lane, Othery. We are withdrawing our planningpermission so please can you remove this from tonight agenda? Members of thepublic looking to speak against the application mainly because of the errors andlack of information were surprised but concerned. The Parish Council reservesthe right to respond if this information is incorrect.

Planning application number: 38/25/00008/PKR. Proposal: Erect a 10×8 x2.5m high standard wooden shed in front of property Location: PeppardsCottage, High Street, Othery, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA7 0QD. The ParishCouncil supports this application as in their opinion it makes little difference tothe street scene and wishes all in a similar position would seek approval fromthe Council.

Planning application number: 38/25/00003/LNE Proposal: Outlineapplication with some matters reserved, for the erection of up to 38 dwellings,erection of 71sqm flexible commercial floor space (Class E), public open space,drainage and associated works. Location: Land North of the A372 and East ofNew Road, Othery, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA7. The councillors agree with thecomments of the public present with all of the public present against thisspeculative application. The Parish Council are against this speculativeapplication for the following reasons: The access is poor and is not mitigatedby the consultants comments and we wait for the Councils Highways comments.The LAP section again needs more detail regarding who will develop it andmaintain it so again very speculative. There are many houses for sale in thevillage and the idea of 50% affordable housing will never materialise with manydevelopments missing the 30% objective one the builders get involved. The idea of Othery needing 4 bedroom houses without any understanding of theneeds for the village not a sensible proposal. The limited information providedis very conflicting. Overall the paper work is poor and the design not fit forpurpose.

Cllr Atherton updated the meetingregarding the Community Speed Watch which had to be suspended because of the new20 mph scheme in the centre of the village. Cllr Atherton will get data from the two SIDSand if the results show that the new 20 mph limit is having little effect the Parish Councilwill have reason to have a speed watch within the new speed limit area as in general the20 mph areas across the country are called self regulating areas. The impression from themembers of the public present is that the speed increases in the evening. The Speed watchnow has a new site to work from as it has to be approved by Avon and Somerset Policebut Cllr Atherton would still like more members to help manage the speed watch.Members of Othery present have concerns because they never see any police walkingaround in the village and when the police are challenged it is because Othery is a lowcrime area and yet they pay the same police aspect of the Council Tax.

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Date and time of the next meeting: Monday 8th September 2025 7:30 Parish Council Meeting.