Town 'has reached housing limit'

A final announcement about the location of the homes is due in July

Council leaders have said the number of people living in Weston-super-Mare has already exceeded what the area's infrastructure can cope with.

North Somerset District Council deputy leader Elfan Ap Rees criticised government proposals to build an extra 12,000 homes in the town by 2026.

Mr Ap Rees said Weston-super-Mare's limit "had been exceeded".

He said the council "did not accept that number" and that job opportunities had to be created first.

The South West Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) outlines what infrastructure, such as jobs, transport links and homes, need to be created.

'Dictate to us'

About 26,000 homes in total could be built in North Somerset by 2026.

Mr Ap Rees said: "We don't agree with the number of houses and where they will be built.

"We do not want the government to dictate to us where they should be built."

A total of 3,028 homes were built or converted in the town between April 2003 and March 2008.

Weston-super-Mare MP John Penrose said he wanted clarification from Ben Bradshaw, the minister for the South West, that a decision had not yet been made.

A spokesperson for Mr Bradshaw said the legal process was being followed and although it was decided that houses would be built, it was not yet decided where they would go.

A final announcement about the location of the homes is due in July.

BBC Somerset: Tensions rise as housing decision looms