LANDOWNERS face a “difficult situation” if they are forced to sell all of their land for a new bypass, a public inquiry has been told, writes John Wimperis.

One landowner faces being left with nowhere else to keep his animals if he loses his land, while another faces losing his fruit and vegetable site, their agent Robert Stone said.

Mr Stone was representing objectors on Tuesday July 18, the third day of a public inquiry into whether North Somerset Council can use its compulsory purchase powers to force landowners to sell them the land to build a bypass around the North Somerset village of Banwell.

Two A-roads meet in Banwell’s incredibly narrow streets, and calls for a bypass around the congested village date back to 1927.

Mr Stone said that Allen Cash was not against the bypass, stating: “We understand the needs for the scheme, however my client just wishes to hold his objection that he felt it should be moved to an alternative location as this is affecting all his land.”

He added: “He has a number of horses and sheep […] and he is obviously losing his base from which he can store his livestock and horses, and is just concerned for the impact on the welfare of the animals and his wellbeing.”

Mr Stone added that the council were still in discussions with Mr Cash, and said: “Hopefully he can have somewhere to move his horses and animals too.”

Another landowner set to lose all his land to the scheme is Mr N White.

Mr Stone told the inquiry: “The land that you are taking is the whole of his site, which includes his lands, it has his buildings, there is a mobile home on the site, and it leaves him in a difficult position because he is losing his base.”

He said that Mr White had parked his van on the site to run a “fruit and veg site,” which he was looking to restart.

But he said Mr Stone also understood the need for the scheme, having lived in Banwell, but hoped the scheme could be moved to an alternative location.

He added that Mr White was also in continuing negotiations with the council.

Mr Stone also raised concerns from other objectors whose land was affected by the scheme, both in Banwell and in neighbouring villages where the council’s compulsory purchase powers are being used to create new cycle and bridleway routes.

The inquiry will continue for its fourth day on Wednesday July 19 with other people impacted by the scheme raising their objections.

The inquiry is being held before Joanna Burston of the planning inspectorate who will report to the Secretary of State for a decision on the scheme to be made later.