THE Government Office for the South West has cleared the way for a long-awaited residential care home to be built in Williton.

The Somerset Care scheme, which will see the village's existing Croft House replaced, was given the go-ahead by West Somerset Council's planning committee more than a year ago - flying in the face of officers' recommendations.

But because the site earmarked for the development lies outside Williton's building line, the application had to be rubber stamped by the Secretary of State.

However, this week a GOSW spokesman confirmed that the authority would not be intervening in the application, effectively giving it the green light.

District council chairman Cllr Eddie May, who is also a Williton ward member, told last year's planning committee meeting - at which the proposal was approved - that he had been fighting for permission for several years.

This week he told the Free Press he was delighted the development could now go ahead.

"I am veryKK pleased because this new home is much needed in the area," said Cllr May.

"It will be able to take more residents, provide additional employment and have much better facilities overall, with bigger rooms that will make it easier for the staff to work in.

"The existing Croft House does a terrific job but the staff are working in difficult circumstances because it desperately needs to be replaced."

And local MP Ian Liddell-Grainger was also delighted by the news: "It's excellent - a result!", he told the Free Press.

The replacement home will have 64 beds, included a dedicated 14-bed dementia unit, and will be built on land known as The Bury, between Bank Street and Bridge Street.

It will also include a new adult learning building and registry office, which will be built by Somerset County Council, which owns the land.

The site of the present 41-bed Croft House in North Croft will be handed to the county council for affordable housing.

The care home element is expected to provide a total of 75 jobs - an increase of 25 on the existing Croft House.

Somerset Care declined to comment on the GOSH decision but a spokesman said it intended to release a joint statement with the county council next week.