TROPIQUARIA manager Steve Smith has unveiled ambitious plans for a £300,000 indoor children's play area at the Washford attraction.

But he fears the plans could fall at the first fence, claiming district council planners have objected to his plans to house the facilities within a mock castle, complete with turrets.

"They claim the plans have little architectural merit because the building is square - strange, but I didn't realise I was meant to be building West Somerset's answer to the Sydney Opera House," Mr Smith told the Free Press.

The indoor activity centre has been planned to rival successful schemes already up and running in areas such as North Devon and would include a disabled toilet, specialist facilities for under fives and a whole host of climbing frames and activity equipment.

The only difference between other schemes and Mr Smith's is the design.

He explained: "Rather than copying attractions elsewhere and putting up an ugly agricultural building, we enlisted the help of the galleon builders, local firm Rustic Playground, and they came up with the exciting idea of building a castle complete with drawbridge and portcullis.

"The building will be low-level and screened by trees. It would be invisible from outside the grounds and would extend Tropiquaria's season through the winter and increase job security for existing staff as well as creating at least six extra jobs."

He said he had hoped the plans would be considered by members of West Somerset District Council's planning committee several months ago.

But he said the plans had been repeatedly delayed as officers asked him to tweak the proposals, including suggestions that he moved the location of the play area.

"They suggested I put it in the lemur gardens - that would mean chopping down 26 mature trees - or on the car park, which would mean we lose a third of our spaces. I'm trying to attract visitors not lose them.

"We decided to put it where the wallabies are at the moment because the site can't be seen from the main road and it can't be seen from Five Bells.

"It's shielded by trees but the officers are now recommending it for refusal."

District council spokesman Norman Staples said the plans were due to be considered at the next meeting of the planning committee on November 22.

He confirmed it looked as though the plans would be recommended for refusal as they stood at the moment, but stressed no firm decisions had yet been made either for or against the proposals.

He said: "We've had the plans since August and the planners have looked at them and used their judgement to come to the decision that the building isn't as good as it could be.

"The planners are not objecting to the principle of what is proposed inside the building but they have to remember it's within the grounds of a listed building and there are national regulations they have to consider."

He added: "In all probability, it is likely the plans will be recommended for refusal.

"However, what members decide to do is up to them, as they may decide that the economic aspects of the plan outweighs the architectural disadvantages."

Mr Smith hopes that economic sense will prevail and said: "The tourist industry is on its knees - Bee World, Secret World and Rode Bird Gardens have all closed this year.

"This winter hundreds of businesses across the West Country are going to close and here we are trying to make things work.

"The council keeps saying it wants to regenerate Watchet, but it seems they're not prepared to do anything about it."

But all may not be lost. Mr Smith has already secured support for the project from his district councillor, Hugh Davies.

Cllr Davies said he was willing to back the venture as it was clearly going to provide entertainment and employment in his ward.

He said: "We're talking about a play building - we're not talking about a house which will be there for permanent use. It's to provide youngsters with a place to play out of the rain.

"He's done so well with the site that I think we should support him.

"He's planning to bring a leisure facility for juniors to West Somerset, which in turn will help to regenerate the area. I'm totally for it."

Cllr Davies said the 60ft by 90ft timber building would not be seen from the road and argued that any highways concerns about access were unjustified.

"There were accidents on that road long before Tropiquaria opened and I'm certain it's not made matters worse," Cllr Davies said.

Mr Smith will now have to wait to see whether councillors follow the advice of their planning officers and turn down his plans.

He added: "I believe that anywhere else in the West Country authorities would bend over backwards to help an attraction looking at spending several hundred thousands pounds to bring more business to the area."

l See Kwinty's Comment on page 4