HOUSEHOLDERS on the edge of a picturesque village fear their scenic view of open fields and rolling hills may be ruined by hundreds of homes.

They also worry that the proposed estate on about 100 acres at the Kingston Road end of Staplegrove, off Corkscrew Lane, would cause traffic chaos.

The developers’ agents say they are consulting with locals and it will be months before a planning application is submitted.

PM Asset Management staged an exhibition in the village hall last week on behalf of the land owners, but several villagers claim they were not told of it.

Bruce Nottrodt, Staplegrove ward councillor and chairman of Taunton Deane Council’s planning committee, said the village is earmarked in the core strategy as a “broad location” for up to 1,500 homes on the Silk Mills side, but only if insufficient houses are built in Monkton Heathfield and Comeytrowe.

He said: “I was aware they were working on the site off Kingston Road, but I’m disappointed because they’re exploiting a loophole and we’ll have difficulty stopping the development if they proceed due to Government policy.

“The public reaction is shock horror and it’s almost universally disliked.

“People are worried that it could look like a nasty estate, and traffic access was the number one problem they latched on to as it’s off a narrow lane.”

Resident Sue Case said: “There has been substantial development in Taun-ton and I really don’t see the necessity to develop around Staplegrove.”

Resident Margaret Richards said: “It’ll destroy the character of a lovely village and cause dangerous traffic congestion.”

Senior planner Gaynor Parkinson, of exhibition organisers GL Hearn, said: “We’re in the early stages, engaging the community to give them an idea of the progress we’ve made to date.

“Staplegrove has been identified in the core strategy as an urban broad location for development.

“There was initial shock that this was becoming a reality – we’ve received numerous comments with the main concern being highways issues.

“Many people have come to terms with the fact that Taunton needs to provide more housing.

“We’re working towards an application which will probably be submitted early next year.

“We’re also holding another three public exhibitions to keep people informed.”