A much-debated air condition unit looks likely to stay at PC World in Lysander Road, Yeovil.

The company installed the unit without planning permission and upset nearby residents, who complained of excessive noise.

An enforcement notice was issued but will be withdrawn if the company is successful in installing noise mitigating measures.

The decision was made when the matter was treated as a retrospective planning application by the district council's Area South Committee.

A previous meeting heard planning officer Dave Hubbard report that the company had experienced similar problems at its shop in York, but were hopeful that measures taken there would be successful in Yeovil, too.

The council's acoustic engineer has since made a site visit and committee members voted 12-0 in favour of the application.

A member of the public, who lives nearby, attended the meeting and said people in the area felt they had not been kept up to date by the council.

Mr Hubbard disputed this and said that all households in the area had received at least one letter, adding that it was practice to only send meeting dates to those that had made representations.

It was also reported that the PC World had won an appeal in the Magistrates' Court against the council.

The sign above the shop entrance was put up without planning permission and deemed too big.

The enforcement officer served a notice, which the company appealed against.

The inspector said: "Any larger sign than the one now under appeal could well result in it dominating the supporting structure and the store's frontage. But I'm satisfied that the appeal sign does not have such an effect."

It was pointed out that the display of a sign without planning permission was an offence regardless of whether the original decision was later overturned. Any council action in that respect was deemed confidential and discussed behind closed doors.

A decision on the lights serving the car park outside PC World and Allied Carpets was deferred to the committee's January meeting.