BUSINESSMAN David Gliddon has pledged to continue his fight to build a new supermarket in Williton - despite failing to win approval for his plans.

West Somerset Council's planning committee unanimously rejected a scheme that could have seen a store just under half the size of Minehead's Morrisons on a 1.5-hectare site incorporating Mr Gliddon's existing agricultural business.

Councillors followed officers' recommendations and concluded that the new development would have a significant impact on the health and viability of village centre shops.

And they also agreed the benefits of a new store would not outweigh the loss of a site already designated for housing.

But Mr Gliddon told the Free Press that he would appeal the decision and warned that Williton was at risk of becoming a dormitory village unless it attracted new investment.

"I am passionate about this development and passionate about the future of Williton - my family has been here for 180 years," he said.

"There have indeed been many advances in Williton in the last 25 years - we have a new hospital, new council offices - but the retail offer has remained unchanged.

"We have to try to revitalise things."

Mr Gliddon said that whilst his proposal included a pedestrian link to Fore Street, he feared that in ten years' time a supermarket could be built on the outskirts of the village.

"That really would hit the retail centre. Of the shops that sell food, only the Spar and Co-Op objected to my plans.

"I don't understand why councillors were so keen to allow those two businesses to continue their monopoly."

Mr Gliddon said around 700 new homes could be built in Williton and Watchet in the next ten to 20 years.

"We will have all these houses but no jobs for the people who will live there.

"You can build homes on non-critical, non-town centre sites but if this land is developed for housing, it will mean any new retail development would have to be built outside the village centre."

Mr Gliddon said he had received many messages of support since the planning committee's decision last Thursday.

"The support has been huge. I have no regrets about putting this forward and taking it to appeal.

"It will now be up to an inspector to decide. If he turns it down then I will have done everything I can."

l See Free Press for a full report on the decision.