Another controversial proposal to build 100 houses between Martock and the village of Coat has been deferred. Despite the planning officer recommending approval, councillors were less than convinced.
It was interesting to hear from the officer that there was no flood risk. This is apparently because the Environment Agency says so. Copious number so photos were presented to the meeting that showed otherwise. In fact showing roads in and around the site under several inches of water.
Ironically the officer’s own report referred to: “Surface water mapping indicates localised shallow flooding along the western boundary, with depths up to 900mm.” That in old money is nearly 3 feet deep.
This is not the first time flooding has become a major issue on an application on Coat Road. A previous application where again, experts said it doesn’t flood, was approved in 2019. Two weeks later the development site was underwater (see image).
For the current application councillors offered up a barrage of complaints from about the apparent disconnect between words in a report, and pictures of what was actually happening.
Committee chair, Cllr Peter Seib took up Cllr Hobhouse’s suggestion to defer the application. So that flooding experts could be on hand to be quizzed by councillors. The suggestion was approved unanimously.
Sewerage problems, too, with the new development on Coat Road, I believe?
Not the first time we have had ‘run ins’ with this planning officer,’ who just seems hell bent on rubber stamping every application that lands on his desk.
He’d also do well to get on the backs of the developers, who are doing their best not to carry out the promises made on a previously signed off application in his name. But hey what do we know on what a Planning Officer actually does, because it’s clearly not carrying out a thorough check/investigation into the applications and all the points put forward.