Service station expansion rejected to protect bats

The service station sits between Taunton and Wellington on the M5

A planned expansion of a motorway service station has been rejected because it could harm local bat populations.

Roadchef Motorways Ltd, which operates the Taunton Deane services on the M5, applied in December to extend the building and carry out a full internal refurbishment of the existing block.

But Somerset Council has vetoed the development, claiming that too little information has been provided about how any impact on bats will be addressed.

The plans were refused through the delegated powers of the council’s planning officers, rather than a public decision by its planning committee, which handles significant applications in the former Somerset West and Taunton area.

'Lack of information'

The service station, which is on the southbound carriageway between Taunton and Wellington, is in the parish of Pitminster and has been open since 1976.

It operates 24 hours a day, with WH Smith, McDonald's and Costa Coffee among the businesses based there.

Under the proposals, the main building would have been extended towards the car park, providing nearly 260 sq metres (2,799 sq km) of extra covered space for seating and a new Leon restaurant, which could create up to 13 new jobs, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Rachel Reaney, director of Astrum Planning, which represents Roadchef, said the reconfiguration would allow for an "improved" internal circulation route, served by a new pedestrian entrance.

But planning officer Gareth Clifford said: "The lack of information concerning bats mean it is not possible to ensure there will be no harm to protected species as a result of the development."

Roadchef has not indicated whether it intends to appeal the decision.