PLANS to build a new village in the countryside to the east of Keynsham have been met with shock from locals and from the farmers whose fields could be built on.
Corston Fields Farm is one of the UK’s first zero-carbon farms. Located between Burnett and Corston, the farm is known for its wine and local quinoa, and has won the Duchy of Cornwall’s Habitat Award Scheme for its commitment to diversifying and adopting sustainable farming methods.
But now Bath and North East Somerset Council’s consultation on the options to include in its new local plan has identified the farm and the surrounding area south of Burnett, just north of the Two Headed Man junction, as a “potential site” for new development.
The council said it had no immediate plans for building on the area – located on the green belt and Duchy of Cornwall farmland – but, if included in the local plan, it could open the doors for homes to be built.
The proposal on the council website stated: “As it is some distance away from any reasonably sized communities, it would need to be of sufficient scale to provide day-to-day services such as a primary school and local shops.”
Local residents fear that the plans could lead to 3,000 homes being built across the fields.
Richard Arthur said: “3,000 houses may not seem a lot but the area is huge – bigger than all of Saltford. Apart from the destruction of heritage green belt, unacceptable volumes of traffic will be added to roads which are at capacity and very dangerous.
“Use up all brown field and industrial sites, and keep the green belt green!”
Caroline Lucas, who also lives in the area, added: “B&NES has declared a climate and ecological emergency yet they’re now encouraging the loss of vital countryside and the destruction of wildlife habitats. This is our shared countryside, and my husband and I are furious.”
Gerald Addicott, who has farmed the land for over 40 years, said: “Approaching from the west on the A39, the first sight you get of Bath, lined in a newly-planted avenue of trees, is exactly the area where this development is proposed.
“It’s green belt, beautiful farmland and it will be gone forever. It’s also home to RSPB critically endangered species. What are B&NES thinking?”
Locals have formed a new group — the Burnett and Corston Protection Alliance — to launch a campaign to protect their area, meeting at the Wheatsheaf pub, which would be at the centre of the new village under the plans.
Almost 600 people have signed a petition by the group against the proposals, and the group is urging people to respond to the consultation on the local plan options (see blue panel on Page 4).
The alliance warned that the area is archaeologically significant, located at the base of ancient monument Stantonbury Hillfort and with the hill containing part of the mediaeval Wansdyke.
As a result of Corston Fields Farm’s work on greening and wilding, the area is also a safe environment for critically endangered species such as skylarks, fieldfares, song thrushes, yellowhammers, cuckoos, newts and hares.
You can respond to the public consultation online at https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/local-plan-options-consultation or by post to Local Plan Consultation, B&NES, Lewis House, Manvers Street, Bath BA1 1JG. The deadline for responses is Tuesday April 16.
John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporting Service
Protest against plan for new village in countryside
