Locals around Old Mills have been in touch with Nub News concerned that a local development order could allow developers to build on a business park without needing planning permission for 20 years.

From the Local Democracy Reporter:

People have until February 23 to share their views on a plans for new business park on the edge of Midsomer Norton.

Bath and North East Somerset Council is considering granting a local development order which would mean developers would not need to apply for individual planning permission to build on the Somer Valley Enterprise Zone site for the next 20 years.

But buildings would still have to submit a compliance application to the council, showing that they fit within what is allowed by the order, which sets out maximum building heights and colour palettes.

Public consultation on the plan began on January 16 and will run until 5pm on February 23.

The business park would be located just off the A362 on the northern edge of Midsomer Norton, across the fields between the Wickes shop and Old Mills Lane near to the Batch "volcano."

A new roundabout would be built at the entrance to the business park, diverting the main road to the other side of nearby houses. The roundabout where Thicket Mead meets the B3355 would become a "kidney shaped" roundabout in order to improve traffic flow to the north.

The Somer Valley Enterprise Zone's operations manager Richard Holden told a meeting of the council's corporate scrutiny panel on January 30: "Its an enterprise zone commercial park but very much within a park-type environment where we can meet our [biodiversity] requirements and our ecological requirements but also deliver sustainable employment land within the Somer Valley."

He added: "Over the last 10 years from about 2010 to about just before 2020 or so, there were a couple of key sites in the Somer Valley which were unable to come forward to enable businesses to grow in the Somer Valley and those businesses were lost out of the Somer Valley to other locations and in some instances, outside of [Bath and North East Somerset].

"Those two businesses, in their own right, probably took with them about 400 jobs locally."

It is believed that the enterprise zone could replace this loss to the local economy, with hopes that it could bring 1,300 jobs to the area.

Councillor for Midsomer Norton North Shaun Hughes said: "We are desperate to have any developments that retain the workforce in the town."

As well as the statutory consultation now underway, informal engagement was already carried out. Mr Holden said: "We listened, we responded, we made changes."

Mr Hughes said: ""We've been through various revisions and consultations to get to this point, but I think where we are now is very good."

But many people still have concerns, with 88 people lodging objections on the planning application for the order, and only seven people commenting in support.

Bethany Harrington is one person who lodged an objection. She said: "To build upon this beautiful area who be a huge disservice to our local area. Please do not allow it to happen and instead consider redeveloping areas that require upgrading."

Paul Fier said: "This proposal would cause huge disruption to families, overload already crowded roads and spoil an area of beauty."

But Luke Davis, who lodged a comment in support said: "It brings much needed commercial spaces for thriving small businesses in the local area and allows increased local employment."

It may be some time before the site is fully developed. Mr Holden said: "The reality is that the site will probably take up to between eight to ten years to deliver out in its entirety, so it is a slow burn.

"But there will be certain activities that will be accelerated on site. As quick as possible after the enabling works are undertaken, we'll be looking to bring forward plots for delivery."

You can respond to the consultation here: https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/somer-valley-enterprise-zone-local-development-order

Jacqueline Simpson told Nub News : "That the stretch of A362 which would be effected by the development, already suffers from a high level of pollution, noise and congestion, from heavy traffic. "

Another comment made to us was the developers state that workers on the site will arrive on foot or by bike, but on other similar developments this has not proved to be the case. All surveys by the Highways Commission & other bodies have shown that developments outside towns produce a significant increase in traffic & pollution, with very few workers arriving on foot or by bike. Midsomer town centre would be a more central area for a local development plan to be put forward, & much more beneficial for residents, having already ample parking, public transport & within walking distance for many residents. Please help raise awareness of this bid by developers to escape the legal local planning application process.

Another added that this will simply kill off Midsomer Norton High Street.