ASHCOTT Parish Councillors are devastated by the decision made by the district planning officers and councillors on the development committee who granted an application for housing on a site rejected during the development of the Neighbourhood Plan this week.

Councillors feel that by granting permission for this development, Sedgemoor District Council has ignored the parish’s adopted Neighbourhood Plan which, among other things, formally identifies and caters for the parish’s housing needs until 2027.

The site is situated outside of the parish’s development boundary and the entrance along the very busy A39. The Parish Council feels the need for a further 14 houses (five affordable and nine market houses) has not been justified when provision for 25 houses, 10 of which are affordable, has already been made.

Chairman of Ashcott Parish Council, Cllr Jenny Lawrence said: “We are at a loss to understand why Sedgemoor District Council would even consider this application when it clearly undermines the very Neighbourhood Plan it so actively encouraged us to create. They even dedicated two of their own staff who worked with our dedicated band of volunteers, to help ensure its success. So why ignore it now?”

Ashcott Neighbourhood Plan was the first of its kind to be adopted in Sedgemoor. It is a detailed and unique set of planning and policy documents compiled for Ashcott during a rigorous four year consultation period. It was formally adopted by parishioners after a referendum result of 85 per cent support in 2016 and by Sedgemoor District Council later that year. Ashcott Parish Council will continue their battle to enforce the content of their Neighbourhood Plan in the future.

However at the meeting itself Colin Macpherson of Aschott Community Playing Fields Committee spoke in favour of the development as it granted them permission to use a field.

"The youth teams currently play their home games away, and this will solve that and encourage local youngsters to stay active," he said.

Cllr Duncan McGinty spoke against the proposal, saying it would send a negative message to other parishes undertaking or considering neighbourhood plans.

Sedgemoor District Council planning officers felt that the application was in line with the key objectives of the Neighbourhood Plan and said it would be difficult to defend a refusal at an appeal.

Cllr Alan Bradford said: "I feel sympathy with Ashcott Parish Council. They were the first over the top with the neighbourhood plan and unfortunately that means you are the most likely to get shot."

The application was approved by committee members by nine votes to four.