PLANS for Minehead's new Morrisons supermarket and petrol station have been earmarked for approval at West Somerset Council's special planning committee meeting next Thursday.

However, even if the committee does give the green light for the Vulcan Road development, the application will still have to be considered by the Government Office for the South West, which will then issue a final decision on the out-of-town proposal.

Planning officer Nigel Furze will tell the committee the council's own independent planning consultants have assessed the application and objections received from individuals, businesses and groups such as Minehead Chamber of Trade and concluded there is both capacity and demand for a new store.

In a report to the committee he says: "There is evidence of a desire on the part of consumers for increased competition and choice.

"The proposed development would create effective competition for Tesco.

"However, this increased competition should not be to the detriment of the vitality and viability of the businesses within Minehead town centre or the surrounding settlements.

"The council has received comprehensive specialist independent retail advice from GVA Grimley.

"The advice has confirmed that, on balance, there is a need for the proposed development; it is of an appropriate scale for Minehead; there are no more central sites which could accommodate the proposed development; and that the proposed development will not have an unacceptable impact on existing centres."

But Minehead Chamber of Trade chairman Marcus Kravis told the Free Press yesterday (Thursday) he had real concerns about the thoroughness of the reports and advice being given to councillors.

He said the chamber had submitted its own updated comments and objections to the council's planning department last Friday.

Yet the planning agenda, complete with Grimley's assessment, had been produced by the council on Tuesday, following a three day bank holiday break.

He said: "To take into account the chamber's information would mean the planning department and GVA Grimley must have been working all over the bank holiday weekend, for which they must be commended.

"If the recommendation for approval did not take this into account how is the chamber's information to be presented? After all the chamber's second submission was within the deadline."

He also criticised an assumption by Grimley that Minehead's existing Somerfield store would be used for "non-convenience" goods.

When Somerfield was acquired by the Co-operative chain the company was told it would have to sell its Minehead Somerfield store in the interests of fair trade.

The Office of Fair Trading stipulated the Somerfield outlet must be sold as a "viable and active business . . . in the provision of grocery retailing".

But Grimley's assessment tells councillors: "If, as expected, the existing Somerfield store closes and is replaced by a non-convenience use, we concluded that there will be sufficient surplus expenditure to accommodate all of the convenience turnover of the proposed store."

Mr Kravis said: "The fact that Grimley is assuming the Somerfield store will be non-food is to say the least very disappointing.

"I thought it was general knowledge that if Co-op stores where sold that they had to be as food stores."

Grimley's assessment says a number of other statistics have also been taken into account and independently verified to support its conclusion that there is a need for a new supermarket in Minehead.

The assessment adds: "We predict that the proposed store will have a 5.5 per cent impact on the town centre's turnover.

"It is our view that the trading effects of the proposed store will not be significant in planning policy terms and the store will not have an unacceptable impact upon the health of Minehead town centre."

Grimley will also tell councillors they believe the new Morrisons will only divert minimal levels of trade from other shopping centres such as Watchet and Williton.

And while Williton Parish Council has objected to the proposal, Minehead Town Council and Selworthy and Minehead Without Parish Council have given their full support to the application.

Porlock Parish Council has "minor observations" but no objections, while no comments have been received from either Dunster of Watchet parish councils.

If permission is granted by the committee - and subject to the final say-so by the Government Office for the South West - the approval will come with a whole of host of conditions attached, restricting retail floorspace, opening hours and ensuring a legal agreement is signed committing Morrisons to road and pedestrian improvements.

Proposals include a new roundabout at the junction of Vulcan Road and Seaward Way, a new entrance for the existing McDonald's restaurant, a toucan crossing in Vulcan Road and a roundabout at the junction of the site access and Vulcan Road.

The council's special planning meeting will be held in West Somerset House, Killick Way, Williton, starting at 4.30pm.