Villagers have ‘set the record straight’ after plans for 200 homes are put forward.

People in Bleadon have said they ‘firmly oppose’ Sutherland Property & Legal Services’ (SPLS) plans to develop the land off Bridgwater Road.

The developer initially came forward with plans for 250 homes and a primary school last year but has now asked North Somerset Council for outline planning permission to go ahead with the new development.

It said: “The initial proposal was for a larger scheme and included the provision of a primary school to serve the village.

“However, the community engagement process demonstrated (residents) do not want a school within the village but aspired to better health care, retail offer, employment opportunity and highway improvements.”

But the new plans have garnered more than 360 objections, as well as 400 signatures on a petition from the original 250-house plan.

A campaign group spokesman said any implication the development was altered for villagers is ‘nonsense’.

They added: “The reason there is now a proposal for less houses is because one of the original landowners has pulled his land out due to the ill feeling within the village.

“Bleadon wants to firmly set the record straight that it does not, in any way, support this development and we will fight hard to protect our village’s way of life and the animals which live here.”

The proposed development also features a GP surgery, healthcare centre, retail space and offices.

The spokesman added: “The whole of Weston needs better healthcare, this is true, however even with a new purpose-built surgery it is unlikely the local commissioning group would be able to afford to place or recruit GPs within it.

“Weston struggles at the moment to recruit doctors in other surgeries alongside the A&E department which has been operated on a part-time basis for six months and is closed overnight.

“While no villager would argue highway improvements are not needed due to several fatalities at both junctions in the past few years, talks have been in progress already with the council on how to make the junctions safer with potential sponsorship and collaboration from the owners of Marshalls Quarry.

“We do not need an extra 200 houses and a developer to make this happen.”