A DECISION on Williton businessman David Gliddon’s controversial plans to build retail units behind Fore Street has been delayed until January by West Somerset Council’s planning committee after an “administrative oversight” was discovered.

Apologising to the 30 members of the public who attended last Thursday’s meeting, chairman Cllr Steven Pugsley said it was the usual practice for the council to inform all interested parties when an application was coming before the committee.

Unfortunately, it had not happened in this case, causing the council “considerable regret” and he apologised on behalf of the authority.

Last December, the planning committee threw out Mr Gliddon’s plans for retail units and a walkway through to Fore Street against planning officers’ advice.

It also rejected a related application to build a £7 million supermarket on an adjoining site.

In July, Mr Gliddon appealed against both decisions, saying that they “flew in the face” of the advice of planning officers.

His amended plan for Thursday’s hearing no longer involved a mini roundabout or demolishing part of his Bank Street store.

Cllr Pugsley said: “As soon as the mistake was realised, officers tried to contact as many people as possible. There is a great deal of interest in this application and a lot of people who wanted to speak did not know about the application until the day before.”

On the suggestion of Cllr Keith Turner, all applications before the committee were deferred until January. It is expected that a special meeting will be arranged to deal solely with Mr Gliddon’s application.