Plans to develop 60 homes on what has been described as a “dangerous and uncrossable” road in rural Somerset have been delayed once again by local councillors.
The Church Commissioners for England, responsible for managing Church of England land and property, submitted outline proposals in January 2025 to build new housing and a community hub south of Roughmoor Lane in Westbury-sub-Mendip. The site lies just off the busy A371 between Cheddar and Wells.
Somerset Council’s Planning Committee East, which oversees significant applications in the former Mendip area, first deferred a decision on the development in early May citing concerns over pedestrian safety, active travel, and the scale of development. The committee has now voted to delay the decision a second time and requested an independent assessment regarding whether improvements to the A371 can ensure the safety of both future residents and existing schoolchildren.
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Located at the western entrance to Westbury-sub-Mendip, the site is nestled between the Robert Glanville Playing Fields-which includes the local skate park-and St. Lawrence’s Church.
To facilitate safe access, plans include creating a new junction onto the A371 Stoke Road, reducing the speed limit to 20mph, closing off Roughmoor Lane, relocating the existing bus stop, and developing a community green space.
The proposed community hub will be situated at the eastern end of the development, with houses clustered around a central green area. An attenuation pond will be built at the southern edge to help mitigate flood risk.
Of the 60 homes proposed, 18 will be designated as affordable, aligning with the council’s 30 per cent target for developments of this size in the former Mendip region.
Financial contributions from the development include over £152,000 for early years education in the village and nearly £61,000 to support special needs provisions. Local health services are set to receive more than £38,000, with an additional £19,000 allocated to the Royal United Hospital in Bath. Furthermore, over £43,000 will be dedicated to extending the Strawberry Line active travel route west towards Rodney Stoke, providing access from the new housing site.
Penelope Colwill, vice-chair of Westbury-sub-Mendip Parish Council, expressed disappointment following the committee meeting held in Shepton Mallet on July 9. She acknowledged community acceptance of the site for housing but warned:
“If this application is allowed in its current form, the village will be blighted by an even more dangerous road and irreversible damage to the village’s character, as well as to the iconic view from the Mendip Hills.”
She criticised the lack of meaningful engagement from the developers despite the community’s willingness to discuss potential solutions.
The land is allocated within the Mendip Local Plan Part II for around 40 homes, meaning the council requires compelling justification to refuse development here.
Local resident Emma Gifford highlighted the lack of a safe pedestrian crossing over the A371, expressing grave concerns for children’s safety. She pointed out that children from the new homes would face nearly 400 hazardous crossings annually just to attend school.
“It is completely impossible to cross safely as a child if you’re four feet high and can’t see oncoming traffic. The applicant’s proposal does nothing to address this hazard,” she emphasised.
Another resident, David Maguire, noted that existing local policies call for a safe crossing, and while the applicants claim it is unfeasible due to sight-line issues, the parish council has offered possible solutions.
Councillor Heather Shearer, representing Mendip West, confirmed she could not support any development that would increase risk to residents, particularly children. She praised the community’s efforts to collaborate with the developers but underscored the need for housing that benefits the village without adding hazards.
Without a safe crossing, the plans include a mown path linking to an existing footpath through the churchyard that emerges near The Westbury Inn on the main road.
Conservative Councillor Susannah Hart questioned why permission could not be withheld until the land required for a safe crossing is acquired, urging consideration for the lived experiences of residents and vulnerable users such as children and those with mobility needs.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Claire Sully pointed to unreported near-misses on the road and stressed that the lack of developer engagement with the community was a significant oversight.
After nearly two hours of debate, the committee voted six to five, with one abstention, to defer the decision until highways officers complete an independent road safety assessment focussing on pedestrian movements across the A371. The plans are expected to return to the committee with the new report before Christmas.