Housing plans putting town at 'breaking point'

More than 100 residents in Crewkerne have objected to the plans

Residents in a countryside market town have said local services and infrastructure are already at "breaking point" amid plans for more than 300 new homes.

Proposals to build 325 homes on the A356 Station Road in Crewkerne, opposite the railway station, were submitted in September. The application also includes a 'mobility hub' and additional station parking.

More than 100 residents have objected to the plans, arguing that they would overwhelm the town's services and create tailbacks on the roads.

Crewkerne Town Council is set to discuss the plans on Monday and Somerset Council is expected to make a final decision in spring 2026.

Crewkerne is already the site of major development, with Taylor Wimpey building 635 homes at the Wool Gardens.

Outline permission is also in place for 150 homes between Lang Road and Station Road and a further 67 homes could be constructed opposite Wadham School, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Resident Alys Hennessy said more homes would be "entirely out of proportion" and would "effectively merge Crewkerne with Misterton".

She added: "Both Crewkerne and Misterton have already contributed heavily to meeting national housing targets."

Andrew Raggett, said: "Crewkerne's road network is already operating at capacity with current volumes of traffic frequently causing gridlock."

The plans include a 'mobility hub' and additional parking for the town's train station

Juliet Eardley said: "Crewkerne's services and infrastructure are already at breaking point and cannot accommodate further large-scale housing development.

She added that "the town's only GP surgery is overwhelmed" and raised concerns that the community hospital is at risk of losing beds.

"Education is equally strained. There are no plans for additional schools, despite the likelihood of hundreds of new pupils requiring places," said Ms Eardley.