Project update meeting between applicant and pins.
See attached.

National Highways - anon.

The Examination of the Sparkford to Ilchester scheme raised the issue of examining alternatives presented by local communities. National Highways argued that proposed changes to the scheme that were substantial material changes or that were changes to the substance of the Application should not be accommodated within the examination process. National Highways conceded that the determination of what is or what is not a material change ultimately lay with the Examining Authority. However, that Examining Authority chose not to examine the alternatives presented by local communities. It is well recorded that during the consultations for the Sparkford to Ilchester scheme local communities presented detailed proposals for alternatives to the scheme design that aimed to eliminate or at least markedly reduce the many adverse impacts of the scheme. National Highways chose not to explore, analyse or develop these community proposals in any depth and ultimately rejected them and used the arguments summarised above to prevent any rigorous examination of the proposals during the DCO process. After the 2019 Sparkford to Ilchester examination, the issue of examining alternatives was tested in 2021 in the High Court following the judicial review of the Stonehenge scheme. The Court decided that the Examining Authority had failed to properly take alternatives into account and as a result the Secretary of State could not properly assess the alternatives. The issue of alternatives arises in the A358 Taunton to Southfields Scheme. Local communities have proposed changes to the design to reduce the adverse impact of the scheme on the well being, health and safety of local communities. Local communities also challenge the adopted design standard as it results in a build of unnecessary scale to achieve the stated scheme objectives. A more compact design would reduce the impact of the scheme on the ecology, landscape and carbon footprint. National Highways refuses to undertake a rigorous examination of these proposals. Moreover, National Highways is not undertaking a safety risk assessment in accordance with the legal requirements of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act, 1974. During the upcoming examination of the A358 Scheme the Community of Parishes asks the Examining Authority to adhere to the ruling of the High Court and insist alternatives to the submitted design are fully considered and recommendations presented in your report to the Secretary of Sate. We would appreciate confirmation that this policy is now adopted within the Planning Inspectorate. Please also see attachment.
Please see attachment.

Robert Burrough

Council Advice Meeting.
Please see attached.

Somerset County Council - anon.

Meeting note including comments and advice regarding draft Application documents
Please see attached.

National Highways - anon.

Project Update Meeting.
Please see attached.

National Highways - anon.

Project Update Meeting
Please see attached.

National Highways - anon.

Please See Attached.
Good afternoon, Thank you for your letter of 2 March 2022, regarding A358 Taunton to Southfields scheme. The Planning Inspectorate has not yet received an application from National Highways regarding the scheme. We have been notified by the applicant that they are intending to submit an application in summer 2022. Please see our website for information received about the project. [attachment 1] The Planning Inspectorate is unable to consider representations about the merits of any application until the application has been submitted and accepted for Examination, therefore, you may wish to address your concerns to your local authority or National Highways directly. If the application is accepted to be examined, you will be able to register as an Interested Party by submitting a relevant representation. This must be submitted on the ‘Registration and Relevant Representation form’ which will be made available on the project webpage of the National Infrastructure Planning website if the application is accepted. Further information about registering as an Interested Party can be found in the Planning Inspectorate’s ‘Advice Note 8.2: How to register to participate in an Examination’ [attachment 2] Information about the process is also available on our website: [attachment 3] You may find it helpful to subscribe to receive email notifications for key events that occur after an application has been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate. You can find a link to this on our website. Please contact us if you need any further information, an email does reach us more quickly than a letter particularly now we are in the office less frequently as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Yours sincerely, Deborah Allen Case Manager

Hatch Beauchamp Parish Council - anon.

We are writing to you on behalf of a Community of Parishes that encompasses 13 Parish Councils and Ilminster Town Council. We represent local communities through which the A358 scheme passes. The Minutes of a project update meeting held on 29th September between National Highways and the Planning Inspectorate grossly misrepresents our efforts in providing proposals to mitigate the adverse impacts the scheme will have on our communities. This is one example of how our participation is being suppressed in order to avoid proper scrutiny of the scheme. The attached letter A358 Scheme_Suppression of Concerns describes our concerns and details our engagement with National Highways and local authorities. We ask that you take appropriate measures to ensure that National Highways is honest and transparent in its development and presentation of the scheme, and the Community of Parishes is fully involved throughout the DCO process. Please acknowledge receipt. Yours sincerely Robert Burrough and Peter Gregory On behalf of: Stoke St Mary Parish Council West Hatch Parish Council Hatch Beauchamp Parish Council Beercrocombe Parish Council Curry Mallet Parish Council Ashill Parish Council Broadway Parish Council Ilton Parish Council Horton Parish Council Donyatt Parish Council Pitminster Parish Council Combe St. Nicholas Parish Council Corfe Parish Council Ilminster Town Council
Thank you for your email and attachment. You may be aware that the proposed application above is currently at the Pre-application stage of the Planning Act 2008 process. Further information about the process can be found in the link below to the National Infrastructure Planning website: [attachment 1] In respect of your concerns about the developer’s pre-application consultation you should contact National Highways in the first instance to enable them to address the issues. In respect of your concerns about the about the merits of the application, The Planning Inspectorate is unable to consider representations until it is accepted for Examination. Further information about the process can be found in the link below to the National Infrastructure Planning website: [attachment 1] It is important that the developer is made aware of your comments at the Pre-application stage to enable them to consider the points raised before finalising their proposals and submitting the application. As you have contacted the developer but you are not satisfied that they have, or will, take account of your comments you can make your comments to the relevant local authority. The Planning Inspectorate will request the relevant local authorities’ view on the adequacy of the developer’s consultation when the application is submitted. Further information about the pre-application consultation process can be found here: [attachment 3] The Planning Inspectorate has published a series of Advice Notes about the Planning Act 2008 process. ‘Advice Note Eight: Overview of the nationally significant infrastructure planning process for members of the public and others’ can be found here: [attachment 4] You may find it helpful to subscribe to receive email notifications for key events that occur after an application has been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate. I hope this helps.

Robert Burrough and Peter Gregory - anon.

Project update meeting.
Please see attached.

National Highways (the Applicant) - anon.

Project update meeting
Please see attached.

Highways England - anon.

Project inception meeting
Please see attached.

Highways England - anon.