I spoke against the proposed development on Elm Close, Wells, at the Mendip District Council's planning meeting on Wednesday November 20.

A decision was deferred for up to six months. I should claim an interest here. I've lived on Elm Close for 34 years with my family and although it has changed very much over that period of time, the road for example is now a fast and dangerous rat run through to the M5, it has been a privilege to live in the countryside but within a 20 minute walk into town.

I would be lying if I said I wouldn't mind a housing estate opposite me.

However, it is a pristine green space, and we need more green spaces, not fewer, more trees, less concrete.

There were other brown field sites available which would have met the housing quota but for their ease, the previous council sold the birds and the bats and the bees down the river when they added these fields to the local plan Part 2, as a site for development.

The UK and Wells does need more houses. Infrastructure will catch up no doubt, however difficult it may be to get appointments, or find a school place.

The crucial point is the sort of houses that we need, not just in Wells but everywhere, to meet the needs of the people and the enormously concerning matter that is climate change.

We need zero carbon houses, i.e. emitting no carbon dioxide and top quality, genuinely affordable homes for local people, who can live and work in the locality.

Wells has grown in population by at least 12 per cent over the last five years. I've counted more than 630 new houses, but none of the houses built are energy efficient, and they will all have to be retrofitted in the coming decade at enormous cost to homeowners and the council.

A zero-carbon house is around two tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, better, than a standard house.

Had we demanded zero carbon homes five years ago, owners would have had lower running costs and these homes alone would have saved 6,300 tonnes of CO.

Imagine the weight of more than 3,000 cars, 1,000 adult elephants, unnecessarily, now causing climate, health and biodiversity problems.

The Rose Banks development on the A371 near the leisure centre, is about to be started. Houses there will still have gas boilers and there are no solar panels unless you pay for them yourselves.

Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey have now conceded a few electric charging points. Mendip would love to be able to demand that every new house built is zero carbon but, can you believe it, they can't.

Some clever people from Sustainable Wells have pored through the planning regulations only to find that national policy prevents Mendip or Wells City Council from having any practical ability to influence what gets built.

Persimmon (remember the director who received a bonus of £75 million?) and friends continue to build the same expensive, under insulated, inappropriate houses all over the country.

It is outrageous and the government needs to be told so. We must make our voices known because time is running out to make the sort of difference to the environment that is needed.

The World Meteorological Organisation has this week given another extremely concerning update on the record amount of toxic pollutant gases, including methane and nitrous oxide that we continue to pump into the atmosphere. The next five years are crucial.

My vision for Elm Close is of a nature-friendly eco-village with zero-carbon houses, that is with the highest levels of insulation as standard, no gas, but solar panels and ground source or air source heat pumps with safe cycle and walking paths, electric car charging points, hopefully for shared cars, good electric vehicle public transport.

It was noted at the planning meeting that there are no community facilities up here, despite the growing number of houses, so a shared community building for all ages, playgroup children, mums and dads and the more mature of us, all supporting and learning from each other.

Add to that a large green area for play, a community orchard and vegetable plot. The vision is a reality, in some areas.

Wells could be at the forefront of innovation here in Somerset. But how can this be achieved unless the developer is aware of the climate emergency that we face, cares about the future and will share the vision above?

If you have any advice, are a green developer or have a few million pounds going spare, do get in contact.

I would love to hear from you. And in the meantime, contemplate this Native American Indian piece of wisdom:

Only when the last tree has been cut down, the last fish been caught, and the last stream poisoned, will we realise we cannot eat money. Cree Indian Prophecy

By Julie Wright