Latest news with #CarolineEllis
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
350 homes approved in Williton despite flooding and traffic fears
Hundreds of new homes have been given the go ahead despite fears over flooding, traffic and renewable energy Wyndham Estate in Williton, Somerset, will include 350 homes, commercial space, leisure facilities and public open critics on Somerset Council had complained about the refusal of the developer, Lovell Homes, to fit solar panels on the Homes had argued the panels were not viable following the government's closure of a scheme whereby homeowners could sell electricity back to the grid. It said the panels would also have a negative visual impact. Councillor Dave Mansell said while "there are lots of good features of this scheme", the developer seemed to have "weird prejudices" against solar Caroline Ellis said solar panels would work in conjunction with air source heat pumps being installed, saving homeowners money on bills, adding: "It's ridiculous that it isn't already mandatory for any new developments."In 2019, the Government closed its feed-in-tariff scheme to new applicants, meaning homeowners could no longer get cash if their renewable energy sources generated enough energy to feed some back to the national to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, under the proposals, 44 per cent of the new homes will be affordable (the equivalent of 155 properties) – far above the 35 per cent mandated within the council's homes will range from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses, with cycle storage and electric vehicle charging points fitted as standard. 'Cars piling up' Councillor Rosemary Woods feared the homes would be subject to flooding and questioned the impact the homes would have on the already busy Nick O'Donnell said: "Here we have 350 homes coming onto the A39 – I can see cars piling up waiting to get onto the main road."To address the issues surrounding flooding, "balancing ponds" have been planned for the estate along with estate was approved with conditions including the developer paying £200,000 to deliver 1 mile (1.5km) of the Steam Coast Trail – a path for walkers and cyclists.A further £500,000 will be provided for new walking and cycling links between the development site and the village of Williton, with an extra £200,000 for a new toucan bus stops will also be upgraded, with a contribution of up to £500,000 to support the 28 service between Minehead and Taunton and the 15 service between Minehead and is expected to begin by the spring of 2026.
BBC News
20-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Taunton park-and-ride hours extended after council vote
Opening hours at a park-and-ride in Taunton are to be extended to try and tackle town-centre traffic and help hospital Gateway, near the village of Ruishton, is open six days a week from 06:20 to 20:15 GMT, with buses taking passengers into town and Musgrove Park Council, which owns the facility, has now unanimously approved plans for services to run every 20 minutes until 23:15 GMT six days a Caroline Ellis, said the decision was a "no brainer". Taunton Gateway, on the A358 near junction 25 of the M5, has enough space for 850 cars, according to the Local Democracy Reporting are capped at £1 per journey from both of the town's park and rides, funded by a grant from the Department for Transport (DfT).The council says it hopes the extended hours will help ease town congestion and help staff at Musgrove Park Hospital, which is facing parking issues due to a new multi-story carpark being put on edge-of-town developments, including 150 new homes within walking distance of the Gateway park and ride, are also expected to increase demand. Councillor Derek Perry said he could see no reason whatsoever to refuse the proposals."I can't imagine that any of us here see anything controversial in this," he said."The fact that now, with this application, nobody local has objected, underlines that people have come to accept this site as part of the local area."
