The campaign to stop gas generators being built close to Welton Primary School have been given a major boost after Bath and North East Somerset Council bosses promised an immediate review of planning policy after a gas power plant in Midsomer Norton was approved unchallenged.

Leader Dine Romero admitted there was "little comfort" in saying officers were only following policy when they agreed the scheme without scrutiny from planning committee members – despite dozens of objections.

The council declared a climate emergency last year, committing to make the area carbon neutral by 2030.

Councillor Romero said it was the responsibility of all councillors to flag up applications that cause concern.

She was responding to a written question to the cabinet meeting on May 29 from Councillor Grant Johnson, who said: "A key travel corridor runs alongside the Midsomer Norton Enterprise Park.

"With the planning permission to build three fossil fuel-burning gas generators do you believe this will undermine the council's priority to provide safe and sustainable corridors and deter residents from walking and cycling in this area?"

The development will see a backup gas power station built on land between Welton Primary School and the Midsomer Enterprise Park.

Cllr Johnson previously told the BBC: "We can't abandon fossil fuels overnight but what we shouldn't be doing is committing ourselves to developments which have a life span of 25 years.

"It's absolutely ridiculous, all it will do is increase our reliance on dirty fossil fuels when other options are available."

Bath Conservatives slammed the Liberal Democrat administration on Twitter, saying the application had been "waved through without scrutiny".

The Lib Dems said the council's hands were tied, blaming policies introduced by the previous Conservative administration.

Councillor Romero told the cabinet meeting: "National planning policy often lags behind council policy. That's come to light in one of the first questions.

"We've declared a climate emergency. There's little comfort to be drawn in saying we're merely following policy.

"We need to make sure we change our policies as quickly as possible. The council has started an immediate review of our planning policies.

"New applications will receive guidance from the council which will give increased weight to our climate emergency objectives.

"The sustainability team will also now be consulted on planning applications.

"We're changing delegation. Certain planning applications will as a matter of course be decided by a committee.

"Councillors have a role to play in bringing applications to the planning committee, as indeed do many of our residents."

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Johnson responded: "It is disappointing to see the leader of the council trying to hide this administration's failures behind planning policy.

"Conrad Energy submitted a planning application for gas generators in Bristol last year and it was rejected due to concerns for public health, with the planning officer acknowledging that 'health impacts are felt from pollution levels recorded below the legal limits'.

"If a bordering Labour council can do it, then why can't this one?

"They have been in administration for a year now, but it seems it has taken that length of time just to recognise that an emergency means immediate action.

"So much for being carbon neutral by 2030."

A spokesman for Conrad Energy said in a previous response that the plant is intended only as a backup and will allow towns across the country to move towards the wider use of renewable energy.

Cllr Johnson also questioned how much of the funding for walking and cycling to enable safe social distancing would be spent in North East Somerset rather than in Bath.

Cllr Joanna Wright, the cabinet member for transport, replied: "As of yet we haven't received any money for walking and cycling improvements. We've been working hard behind the scenes.

"We've identified 15 places, based on high footfall.

"This is only phase one. Until the Government have delivered the funding we're finding it difficult to put in anything. This is a work in progress."

She asked residents to fill in a consultation so the council can take their ideas further.

Deputy leader Richard Samuel previously said the authority may only receive £600,000 for for walking and cycling and many of the measures are "eye-wateringly expensive".