Council defends its oppotion to Axminster homes scheme

AXMINSTER Town Council has defended its opposition to the 400 homes development planned for Cloakham Lawns.

And it has pledged to continue its fight for a north-south relief road and traffic calming measures to reduce its impact.

The commitment comes in a statement issued by Mayor Ron Jones and planning committee chairman Chris Scott.

They have reiterated fears that the extra homes planned for Cloakham will massively increase problems along a route which cannot cope with the present volume of traffic.

They said: “Access to this site can only be gained via the A358 Chard Road.

“This road is the main route for north-south traffic not only to Axminster but to Colyton and the coastal towns of Lyme Regis, Seaton and Beer.

“It cannot cope with the present volume of traffic at busy times such as rush hour, sunny weekends and in the holiday season.

“This situation will be made worse as a result of the additional vehicle movements from the proposed development. No indication of how this problem would be resolved has been given.

“The additional traffic will add to the congestion experienced already on a daily basis in the centre of Axminster between the Guildhall and Axminster Hospital. Again no clear solution to this problem has been given.

“At recent consultation events, the need for a relief road and measures to make the town centre more user friendly, both for drivers and pedestrians, were high priorities.

“Axminster Town Council will continue to fight for these objectives.”

The councillors also criticise the fact that the application was approved ahead of talks on the local development framework – making a mockery of what was supposed to be a period of consultation.