A group of residents in MIdsomer Norton have lodged a formal complaint over news that a planning application has been granted to build a gas generator.

Residents in and around the road closest to the development have also contacted the local MP Rees-Mogg for his support in challenging the decision made by B&NES.

They were told that the MP does not have the authority to challenge planning applications that have been formally passed, but that he will "make representations to the Director of Development, in respect of your formal complaint."

Abi Nimmo, who made the complaint on behalf of her neighbours at Burlington Road wrote : " Given the number of objections, both my neighbours and I feel this decision should have gone to committee, it is not a decision that should have been delegated, especially given Midsomer Town Council objected.

"Local residents such as myself were not informed of the proposed plans, which we feel aggrieved at. The boundary of my property sits only five meters away from the boundary of the site where the proposed gas substation will be located. Because of this I strongly feel I should have been notified by BaNES planning department. I only discovered the application was made because a neighbour of my found out at one of the local pubs - in passing conversation."

On May 22 it was reported by the BBC that planning permission for three gas-powered generators were approved under delegated powers by B&NES.

This was in spite of 50 formal objections to the plans.

The B&NES officials have defended the decision and insisting, according to the BBC: "Neighbouring properties and the town council were notified of this planning application in September 2019.

"The council took into account all comments received in reaching its decision in accordance with its published procedures."

The generators will have an 8 MW (megawatt) capacity, but will only operate for a maximum of 2,500 hours a year during what the company building them insist will be periods of 'high demand'.

The local protest group, has also contacted Friends of The Earth, Ecocide & Greenpeace and has the right to take the case to the Local Ombudsman if they can prove that a procedural mistake has been made.