WILLITON could be in line for an investment of almost £1 million to provide new sporting and community facilities.

West Somerset Council's planning committee gave the go-ahead last Thursday for a new pavilion and multi-use games area on the village's Memorial Ground.

The scheme - likely to cost around £950,000 - has been put forward by Williton Parish Council, which is hoping to attract substantial grant aid from funding streams including the Big Lottery, Sport England, the Football Foundation and a scheme set up by EDF Energy to offset the impact of its proposed new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point.

A similar application was turned down by planners earlier this year because of concerns over the impact on nearby properties and the potential for anti-social behaviour in a hidden area at the back of the building.

But amended plans, relocating the pavilion so that it backs onto the GP surgery - originally discounted because it was a higher flood risk area - found favour with planners.

Cllr Bill Vaughan, who has spearheaded the project for the parish council, told the Free Press this week that he was delighted the project could now move forward.

"Obviously we still have to find the money but securing planning permission is a major step forward," he said.

"This is a big opportunity to improve facilities for the community and will be a huge benefit to the village.

"There is some way to go yet but it represents a substantial investment."

Cllr Vaughan said if the necessary funding could be found, the pavilion and new games area could be completed by late 2016.

Crucially, planning committee members also backed the removal of a proposed restriction which would have banned the use of amplified sound, which Cllr Vaughan said would have raised serious concerns about the viability of the facility.

However, the glass-fronted pavilion, which will seat 150 for a meeting or 100 for a function and include a badminton court, is not without its critics.

The amended proposal attracted 18 letters of objection, against 14 letters of support, with concerns raised ranging from the loss of recreation land and increased vandalism to noise and the size of the pavilion, which would measure almost 30 metres by 14 metres.

One local resident told last week's meeting that Williton did not need a building of that size and questioned where people would park - just two disabled parking spaces are proposed.

And another objector, John Holden, said the pavilion would be a blight on the Memorial Ground.

But Rebecca James, who is a parish councillor but was speaking as a resident living near the proposed development, dismissed concerns over noise.

"I can hear almost everything that takes place on the Memorial Ground but that is all part of living in a village," she said.

"This will be a great asset to the village - it will bring Williton into the 21st century and benefit future generations."

And resident Ian Aldridge said the project had been talked about since 1996.

Other sites had been investigated and one by one rejected.

"This is long overdue," he said.

The development will require the Robert Street entrance of the memorial Ground to be widened by 2.6 metres but Cllr Vaughan said a "framework agreement" had been struck with the GPs to purchase the necessary land.

He said he believed that the concerns raised with the previous application had been fully addressed.

Planning committee member Cllr Keith Turner said it had saddened him that councillors had been unable to support the original scheme.

"Anything that helps the health and well-being of the community should be supported and I am glad that this application has addressed our previous concerns."

Committee chairman Cllr Tony Knight said he understood the concerns of residents leaving nearby but sporting activities had to be encouraged.

And Cllr Maureen Smith said Williton had a high level of deprivation and the facility would help support families.