A GROUP of Brent Knoll residents is calling for a parish poll over controversial plans to build 14 homes and a new traffic light system in the village.

At a parish council meeting on July 5, village councillors discussed an amended planning application from Coln Developments to build 14 commercial homes in Brent Street, beside the A38.

Councillors looked at amendments made to the application, which included changes to the road layout and landscaping, as well the long-standing problems with A38 junction on Brent Street.

Following the meeting, angry residents have called for a parish poll on the application, saying recent amendments to the plans have ditched any plans for affordable homes in favour of a new traffic light system at the Brent Street junction, which they branded a ‘bribe’ to planners.

David Sturgess, a Brent Knoll resident who attended the parish council meeting, said: “The original proposal from this developer included eight affordable homes.

“The latest proposal has ditched any affordable homes that we need in favour of a bribe to provide a traffic lights solution to our road junction, that could create a fatal back-up of traffic on the M5.”

The plans for new homes being built on the site had already been shelved by Brent Knoll Parish Council in March.

After facing opposition from residents, Brent Knoll parish councillors decided to make no comment on the developers’ latest amendments to the scheme.

Mr Sturgess said the parish council’s refusal to comment will be taken by Sedgemoor District Council as another sign of approval for the ‘misguided’ application.

“The council’s refusal to comment on the application will be the trigger for the parishioners’ demand for a referendum,” he said.

“This planning application is under a formula called a P4 – an application to develop outside the agreed development zone, but offering a benefit that the community wants.

“The parish poll will determine whether Brent Knoll residents agree that developing 14 high-cost homes at a dangerous road-junction is fair exchange for getting a traffic lights system.

“Most of us fear that this traffic lights system will add to the frequent congestion that creates dangerous back-ups at junction 22 of the M5.

“The Highways Authority has always said that they cannot deliver a bigger solution to our Brent Street junction with the A38 until we get more deaths in the area, which are not happening.”

Owen Cullick, from Brent Knoll Parish Council, said residents must accept the council has no control over changes to the A38 junction.

He also rejected the accusation the installation of the traffic lights was ‘a bribe’.

He said: “The parish council was only asked to consider some relatively minor changes to the site for the houses and which included small changes to road layout and landscaping these were requested to the developer as part of the proposed housing element of the application.

“The parish council therefore took the view that the appropriate response was to make no observations.

“As for the lack of affordable housing this is being offered as part of another small development providing the current discussions and planning process is completed.

“At no time has the parish council been subject to bribes.”

Mr Sturgess has confirmed that Brent Knoll residents will be asking the town council for a parish poll to show if there is community support for the proposed development.