A PETITION to stop the council from selling off a piece of land in Highbridge so it can be replaced by 110 homes has been signed by nearly 700 people.

Last month developer Coln Residential won outline planning permission to build a play area and a fitness trail on land between Lakeside and Isleport despite more than 140 objections from residents.

The land is currently owned by five parties including Sedgemoor District Council (SDC) and last month SDC launched a consultation as it plans to sell off the land for the development.

But Joy Russell, a resident who opposed the plans, vowed to fight against the plans with Lakeside residents and launched a petition to stop the council from selling the land.

Joy said after knocking around doors 'in all winds and weathers' around 700 people have signed the petition and residents are 'passionate' about not losing green space in the area.

She said: "I was delighted to have collected so many signatures and would like to thank everyone who signed and shared the petition.

"I did a lot of door knocking in all winds and weathers and listening to how strongly everyone felt about the over-development of Highbridge and their passionate reactions to losing any more of our green space was heartening and made it all worthwhile.

"They were all very encouraging and thankful for my efforts. Sadly though a large proportion of the people I spoke to were disheartened and sceptical that any good will come out of my efforts as they felt sorely let down by so many recent planning decisions in our area.

"This town has taken a serious beating in the last ten years and the cracks are widening. Fear of flooding and lack of services and infrastructure was also top of people's grievance list as even more houses built here will compound the problems yet further. The general consensus was 'enough is enough'."

Joy said she is opposed to the plans as she believes developing on the site would 'decimate' wildlife that lives there and she thinks the land should be shared with the community.

She said she thinks Highbridge is becoming 'extremely overdeveloped' and green land in the area needs to be protected.

"This land is supposed to have been shared with the community and it has great potential to be so much more than just a park, it could easily be a wild natural open space where trees could be planted and our children could learn hands on how to re-wild and care for the planet," Joy said.

"I am also totally opposed to public money being handed over to a private developer merely to make the development more viable. Also it makes no sense building on a flood plain.

"We wont need electric car charging points but moorings for our rowing boats.

"Habitat destruction through housing developments on green sites is one of many reasons why our wildlife in the UK is under threat and it is time for people to wake up to this fact and think responsibly about caring for our environment and giving our children and theirs the chance to do the same.

To obtain a plan of the proposed land contact Tim Mander on 01278 435331 or email Tim.Mander@Sedgemoor.gov.uk.

To sign the petition pop into Thyers Tackle shop in Highbridge.