The village pressure group, Chilcompton Against Rural Overdevelopment (CARO), despite a series of recent victories, faces a new attack in the form of a proposal for the construction of 95 new houses.

The houses would be built on green fields between Rock Road,

Stockhill Road and Hoecroft. The company behind the proposal is Gladman, who have proposed large developments at places locally such as Writhlington – so far unsuccessfully.

A planning application has not yet been put in but it is thought that pre-application meetings have been held with Mendip District Council and some local residents have received flyers through their doors.

The flyer mentions 95 homes, but if you go on the company website there is talk of 150 houses. Even 95 houses would increase the size of the village by 10%.

The news has brought the campaigning group, CARO, which now has more than a hundred members, back to active life.

CARO spokesman, Rich Morgan, said: “This is an absolutely terrible development and we will do absolutely everything, within Covid limitations, to prevent it.

“As we’ve said before, this is not nimbyism – this is about the sustainability of the village. The school is full, the surgery is full, there are flooding issues throughout the community and the small roads are increasingly dangerous.

“You only have to witness the number of posters displayed all over Chilcompton to see the strength of feeling held by villagers against this sort of development.”

CARO have already contacted their local MP, James Heappey, who shortly before Christmas gave his support to the local pressure group saying he doesn’t want to see Chilcompton become a town.

He said: “Chilcompton has taken a significant amount of development in the last ten years and therefore I agree with the community in questioning whether the village should be expected to take more.”

In addition, CARO has the support of the Parish Council, the District Councillors and the County Councillor.

The development comes at a time when CARO is celebrating four recent triumphs at a national level. Government Inspectors have dismissed appeals in recent weeks for developments at Somer Lea, White Hayes, Sestri paddock and Naishes Cross.

Malcolm Rigby