Planning decision 'unfair'

COUNCILLORS representing areas outside of Weston should not be allowed to vote on issues affecting the town, according to a 'disillusioned' resident.Susan Legg, who lives in Wellsea Grove, says the outcome of a recent council meeting was unfair because 'outside' councillors helped make the decision to allow a controversial building development to go ahead in her road.Plans to build 41 homes in Wellsea Grove were turned down by North Somerset's west area committee in November, despite being recommended for approval by officers. But because it was a major application and councillors at the west area committee, which deals with planning applications in the Weston area, had gone against officers' recommendations it went before the local authority's planning and regulatory committee in January and was approved.Mrs Legg, who lives with her husband John, said: "We have been told that we are not allowed to appeal against the decision. People feel let down."We are annoyed that councillors outside of Weston voted for the application to go through. Our main concerns over the development are the traffic problems it will create."At the moment when I reverse out of my drive I can't see what is coming from Locking Road and now I will have to contend with more traffic."If this development goes ahead I can see there being more accidents. If we could appeal we would."I feel so disillusioned. This is supposed to be a democratic society."When the application for Wellsea Grove was approved at the planning and regulatory committee last month developers were given 36 conditions they have to uphold, including submitting an application for road calming measures in the area.A North Somerset Council spokesman said: "As the applicant the developer would have a right of appeal, but any third party does not.