A DISUSED petrol station which stopped trading in an Exmoor village more than 20 years ago could be repurposed for community use.

The owners want to make the Grove Bank site available as a new public space for the benefit of Wootton Courtenay residents and visitors.

Petrol pumps have been removed from the redundant petrol station, which has a hardstanding and kiosk opposite the village stores and Post Office.

The plan is to provide new hard and soft landscaping with seating, with the kiosk acting as a shelter and possibly also for local interest exhibitions.

Planning agent Louise Crossman said pre-application advice from Exmoor National Park Authority was sought on a number of issues which now formed a series of separate planning applications.

Ms Crossman said there was no longer a demand for services previously provided by the garage and the site was not capable of being used for other employment purposes.

She said the new public space would enhance an underused and redundant part of the village street scene and make a positive contribution to its conservation area.

Ms Crossman said the repurposed kiosk would have a bench and a space for small exhibitions, and a defibrillator would be provided.

The outside of the kiosk would be refurbished with materials similar to those existing, and the building would be screened from the road by timber planters.

Ms Crossman said: “The proposal is seen as complementary to the surrounding conservation area and an improvement to an under-utilised part of the existing streetscape.

“Refurbishment of the kiosk provides a sustainable re-use of an existing building within said conservation area.

“The functional nature of a forecourt is a very specific type of space and is one that does not easily lend itself to repurposing.

“Equally, its existence is predicated on the continued existence of a garage trading.”