MORE than 30 residents joined a meeting protesting two major new housing new developments in Highbridge.

The meeting was due to take place at the Bristol Bridge Inn - but ended up taking place in the car park due to a power failure at the pub.

The meeting was led by Lakeside residents Linda Greenland, who said she would fight 'tooth and nail' to get the application for 121 homes on the field behind Lakeside rejected.

Residents also made their feelings clear about a separate application for 47 homes at Walrow, which has already had 60 objections sent in.

Linda Greenland said: "We are not here for a negotiation on numbers, we want this thrown out - we will camp out there if we have too."

Having researched the matter, Lakeside residents Linda Greenland, Denzil Clarke and Charlie Tillam handed out leaflets outlining four suggested planning reasons that residents could use to object the application.

The first reason outlined is the preservation of public open space, with campaigners saying the proposed development directly contradicts the council's obligation to 'protect and enhance the local environment, including wildlife habitats, trees and woodland'.

The second issue is the A38 access and increased traffic congestion.

"The only access to the new development can easily be blocked and emergency vehicles won't be able to access it with ease," Mrs Greenland said.

"The Lakeside estate road already has parking problems, and with only one exit to the proposed development the road is too narrow, and will become congested."

The fourth reason highlighted was infrastructure issues such as the extra pressure on school places and doctors surgeries.

Sedgemoor District Councillor Roger Keen said he was strongly opposed to the development, and said he had asked for a mitigation report into how the pile-driving would affect the nearby railway bridge and homes.

Cllr Keen also said that as part of the land was publicly-owned Sedgemoor District Council would have to hold a public referendum before selling it.

However a spokesman for Sedgemoor District Council clarified that there would be a public consultation exercise where people could submit objections - but not a referendum.

A Sedgemoor District Council said: "Part of the land in the proposal is owned by Sedgemoor District Council, with the remainder of the land is privately owned by a few individuals.

"Although the field is not formal open space it is still currently protected from development through planning policy.

"However, given the need to significantly increase the supply of new housing, a national priority, the Council’s new Local Plan anticipates that some new housing will be delivered on this site during the next five years but it will be essential to include a substantial area of high quality open space within any scheme.

"SDC, as partial landowner, has agreed to allow the developer to explore the possibility of development on its land.

"Any sale of SDC owned land would be subject to a public consultation exercise.

"Any decision to sell would have to gain the Executive Committee’s approval."

To view the Lakeside application go to the planning section of the Sedgemoor District Council website and reach for the application number 11/18/00087.