CAMPAIGNERS fighting plans for a controversial supermarket development in Williton - just under half the size of Minehead's Morrisons - won the support of local civic leaders this week.

Williton Parish Council overwhelming voted to object to the proposal being put forward by J Gliddon and Sons on the company's existing site in Bank Street and land behind.

Councillors put forward a total of 12 reasons to support their recommendation that the scheme, which also includes a number of smaller retail units, offices and flats and 175-space car park, should be turned down.

However, a comment by Cllr Mike Bennett, the only councillor to vote against the objection, that the development would revive the centre of the "fading" village, failed to win the support of other councillors.

At least 60 people attended the council's meeting on Monday, with ten of the 11 people who had asked to speak voicing a raft of objections.

Bridge Street resident Jenny Gibson raised concern about the proposed three-arm mini roundabout at the access to the site.

She said the impact on Bridge Street, which in addition to around 90 homes, also had Croft House care home, the register offices, Magna West Somerset Housing Association headquarters and a skills and learning centre, had not been taken into account.

Bridge Street was also an access for farm traffic and no account had been taken of the needs or safety of pedestrians.

Mrs Gibson said the new roundabout would be within 60 metres of the Egremont corner roundabout, which could only be "a recipe for traffic chaos".

Brian Tyner, who has run Williton's post office for the past six years, said the village was one of just nine in the country able to boast the range of shops and services it offered.

And he questioned whether the existing Gliddon's business could survive the predicted loss of trade - around 47 per cent for the Spar, 35 per cent for the Co-Op and 14 per cent for other shops - that would result from the supermarket development.

Other objectors questioned the accuracy of the estimated 150 jobs the development would deliver and whether any other businesses would move into the "large" Co-Op and Spar units if they closed.

Local businessman Edward Martin said normally the identity of a new supermarket would be known when an application was submitted.

But in this case, it was a property developer making the bid, not a particular operator.

"Normally, you would know what you are going to get - here we don't know."

Mr Martin said the applicant had promised parking would be free on the site but that could not be guaranteed.

And if parking was free, it would compromise the viability of the existing West Somerset Council-owned car park in the village.

Mr Martin said when the development had first been put forward two years ago it had been met with a protest march, petition and many letters of support.

"There have been many more objections in the last two weeks - to date, 127 online, with only 13 in support."

Louise Martin told the meeting she was worried about the heavy goods vehicles negotiating the new roundabout and the increase in traffic.

Mrs Martin said West Somerset's two main arterial routes met in Williton.

"Williton is like a gateway to Exmoor and West Somerset.

"If we get a reputation as a bottleneck, people will avoid coming to West Somerset, which will have a negative effect."

Alan Meneilly and his wife produced the results of a shopping trip for a basket of basic groceries - one from Morrisons costing £24.66 and another from shops in Williton coming in slightly cheaper at £24.48.

"OK, our survey was small but for a typical basic shop there is very little difference in the price," said Mr Meneilly.

"We really value the choice, value and quality available in the village.

"I would ask the council to consider what we will lose in Williton before handing over to the monopoly of a big supermarket."

Wendy Spencer, a member of the Love Williton action group set up by objectors, said the applicants had made it clear in their own documents submitted with the proposal that only 30 per cent of customers for the new supermarket would come from the Williton area.

She questioned how the predicted reduction in road journeys would be achieved if the majority of customers were travelling from outside the local area.

And she said Williton could not and should not be competing with Minehead, Bridgwater or Taunton.

But Simon Bruford spoke out in favour of the new development, saying the existing supermarkets were too expensive.

"I can save between £30 and £40 by going to Minehead - even with the cost of petrol."

Mr Bruford said Williton needed more jobs.

"Some people have queried the number of jobs that will be created but it's not just the supermarket - it's the other retail units as well.

"I think this will work. Williton is not a little village any more - it is expanding."

The reasons cited by the parish council for its objection ranged from concern about having two roundabouts in close proximity to the "unsustainable" loss of trade for existing businesses.

Councillors also said the scheme would prevent the building of a hoped-for inner relief road.

The final decision on whether the scheme gets the go ahead will be made by West Somerset Council's planning committee, possibly at the end of April.

After Monday's meeting, a spokesman for the objectors said he was pleased with the parish council's decision.

"But this was only the first hurdle and there is still a long way to go," he said.

"We are certainly not complacent about the final outcome."

David Gliddon, managing director of J Gliddon and Sons, who attended the meeting but did not speak, said he was slightly disappointed by the parish council's response.

"I felt the mood of the meeting was very much about Williton looking after the needs of Williton residents," he said.

"But Williton has been a centre for services for West Somerset for more than 100 years and already has the role of serving the locality."

Mr Gliddon said the supermarket development would generate an additional £2.21 million, which would be shared amongst the existing businesses and more than compensate for any loss of trade.

But he said both the Spar and Co-Op stores were part of organisations that were more than used to competition.

"They would simply compete with a different offer."

Mr Gliddon pledged there would be limited free parking on the new development for all motorists - not just customers of the supermarket or retail outlets.

And he reiterated his belief that the scheme would lead to a reduction in carbon emissions since the majority of people's journeys would be shorter as they "diverted" to Williton, rather than Minehead, Taunton or Bridgwater.