Williton businessman David Gliddon has been granted planning permission for a controversial scheme to build retail units on land behind Fore Street.

West Somerset Council’s planning committee had previously gone against officers’ advice and turned down a similar application, along with an application to build a £7 million supermarket on an adjoining site.

But at their meeting on Thursday the committee voted by 7-4 top give outline consent to Mr Gliddon’s plan to build four retail units and demolish part of the Lloyds Bank building to create a pedestrian walkway to the main street.

The consent is subject to conditions including hours of operation, adequate lighting and vehicle movements.

The planning committee gave the go-ahead after a proposal to recommend refusal was lost by one vote.

Councillors voiced worries about parking, traffic problems and the impact on village vitality but granted the application after assistant planning and environment director Tim Burton warned that their objections were not evidence-based and could not be justified if the matter went to appeal.

Full story in next Friday’s Free Press.