OPPOSITION is mounting in Minehead to plans for a roadside service station, Costa coffee, and a convenience store on the edge of the town.

Formal public consultation closed on Wednesday (March 26) on plans by Forelle Estates Ltd to develop a 1.7-acre site off the A39 Ellicombe roundabout which actually falls within Dunster parish.

However, comments can continue to be submitted to Somerset Council, which has set itself a target of April 17 to determine the application.

Among the objectors to the proposed development are Minehead Town Council, Dunster Parish Council, Minehead Conservation Society, and Exmoor National Park Authority.

Forelle wants to include 10 electric vehicle charging bays (EV), six of them fast charging, and said up to 21 could be accommodated in future as petrol and diesel pumps were discontinued.

Red dotted area shows the location of a proposed roadside service station on the A39 outside Minehead. PHOTO: Google Maps.
Red dotted area shows the location of a proposed roadside service station on the A39 outside Minehead. PHOTO: Google Maps. ( )

It said the facilities would serve residents in Minehead and surrounding area as well as motorists on the A39.

But the conservation society said it was an unnecessary development which would ‘drastically erode the landscape setting’ of Minehead.

A spokesperson said: “There is no proven need for this facility and no benefit to the community.

“Much is made of the EV charging points that will be provided, particularly for Butlin’s users.

“Surely, the obvious place for any additional points to accommodate their needs would be on Butlin’s own car park.

“Currently, the town has adequate charging points in its car parks.

“People travelling further into the South West do not come via Minehead, they stay on the M5.

“Minehead already has three very adequate petrol filling stations, all in relatively close proximity to the proposed one, numerous cafes both independent and otherwise.

A plan of a proposed Minehead roadside service station. IMAGE: Frowsbury Design.
A plan of a proposed Minehead roadside service station. IMAGE: Frowsbury Design. ( )

“There is no call for something that will simply reduce footfall for town centre traders and put them out of business.

“They have enough to contend with already.”

Parish councillors in Dunster were concerned the development would be in breach of the West Somerset local plan and would impact on Exmoor’s dark skies designation.

Council clerk Sarah Towells said councillors did not consider there were any ‘exceptional circumstances’ which would justify development in otherwise open countryside.

Minehead Town Council planning committee chairman Cllr Mimi Palmer said the comparison by Forelle Estates between a nearby farm veterinary practice meeting agricultural needs and the proposed fuel station was ‘inexplicable’.

Cllr Palmer said: “That would be like comparing cats to carrots, they are just not the same thing.

“The equine facility fits unobtrusively into its landscape, the proposed facility would be a blot on the landscape.”

She said Ellicombe Lane was narrow and used mostly by pedestrians, dog walkers, and cyclists.

Cllr Palmer said: “It is not wide enough for regular, heavy, two-way traffic which would no doubt include delivery vehicles and fuel tankers.

“Over the years, there have been numerous traffic accidents at the Ellicombe roundabout, increased traffic accessing the proposed site will exacerbate the likelihood of further incidents.”

Exmoor planning officer Rebecca McAndrew said the development would result in a ‘visually jarring intrusion’ within the countryside setting at the edge of the national park.

Forelle Estates managing director Michael Price said: “The UK’s EV infrastructure is struggling to keep pace with demand.

“In 2024, nearly one in five new cars sold in the UK was electric, yet access to reliable, high-speed charging remains a major challenge.

“Minehead currently has just 16 public EV chargers, the majority of which are slower 50kW and require several hours for a full charge.

“As the number of electric vehicle drivers increases, it is crucial to expand the availability of convenient, fast charging options.

“Our proposed Minehead EV hub will deliver much-needed infrastructure, introducing eight ultra-fast 150kW chargers, capable of charging a vehicle in just 15 to 30 minutes, as well as three traditional petrol pumps.

“By providing reliable, high-speed charging on the A39, we can support residents, businesses, and visitors while reducing the need for drivers to divert into the town centre just to charge their vehicles.”

Mr Price said up to 35 local jobs would be created during construction of the service station and ongoing to support the local economy.