In planning news in and around Midsomer Norton this week:

Planners have approved an application to build a single storey equipment store and workshop at Cam Valley Sports Club, on Bristol Road, in Paulton.

In Radstock, planners have decided that there is no prior approval needed for 12 Kilmersdon Road to apply to build a single storey rear extension.

There is no objection to an application to fell a Willow and an Ash tree at 82 Bath Old Road, in Radstock.

No objections either to an application to cut back a Lawson Cypress

at Fosseway Cottages, on the Somervale Road, in Radstock.

In High Littleton, an application to build a general purpose farm building on a parcel of land at Bungays Hill has been withdrawn.

In Paulton planners have discharged conditions 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9 of application 20/00299/FUL (which is to build two dwellings and relocation of existing double garage) at 2 Greenhill Cottages, on Britten's Hill.

Also in Paulton the owners of 21 Victoria Terrace, on Bath Road (under application 21/02349/FUL) have applied to build a two storey rear extension.

Planners have discharged two conditions on the application 20/00130/FUL at Weaver Demolition Ltd, Unit 1, on the Farrington Fields Trading Estate, Farrington Gurney. That application is for a new outbuilding.

They have also discharged one of the conditions on the planning application for a single storey rear extension and wrap around veranda at The Spinney, on Church Hill, in High Littleton (21/02348/COND)

The owners of Newlands on the Bath Road in Stratton on the Fosse have been given approval to replace a conservatory to the side elevation, raise the roof height, and build a first floor balcony to the front and rear elevations. That is under Mendip's jurisdiction.

Also under Mendip planning department, the Local Democracy reporter Daniel Mumby writes:

A cosmetic surgery clinic in the Mendip Hills will be allowed to continue operating after retrospective plans were approved without debate.

Dr Ian Strawford runs the Skin Excellence Clinic, which is based within the Cheese Yard complex in the village of West Horrington, just north of Wells.

Dr Strawford began running the clinic on the ground floor of one of the buildings in February 2019 without planning permission, and applied for a change of use retrospectively.

Mendip District Council has now ruled that the clinic can continue to operate, granting permission without any public debate.

Details of the proposal were published before a meeting of the council's planning board on Wednesday evening (May 19).

The council's planning policies allow its planning board to vote to accept an officer's recommendation (whether to approve or refuse planning permission) without public discussion – even if the application in question is listed on the agenda for a public meeting.

The council has used this numerous times in the past – mainly on applications relating to the Commerce Park in Frome, where policy dictates all decisions regarding the site (however minimal) must come before a public meeting.

In the case of the Cheese Yard clinic, the application was considered in public since the land is owned by Mike Pullin – who is also the district councillor for the local St Cuthbert Out North ward.

Planning officer Callum Pearce said in his written report: "The application site would provide an enterprise within a diversified former farmstead.

"There would be benefits to the local economy and employment opportunities through expansion.

"No physical works are proposed to the exterior of the barn, which retains its historic farmstead visual aesthetic as approved under historic applications.

"There are residential uses within the area, to the east and north, but these have been operating alongside the existing commercial uses for many years, so the retrospective change of use is considered to have no further impact on neighbouring amenity compared to the existing uses on site."

The clinic currently operates between 8:30am and 5:30pm on weekdays, and employs the equivalent of four full-time staff.

The board voted to approve the retrospective plans without discussion by a margin of 12 votes to none, with two abstentions (including Mr Pullin, who could take no part in any debate or discussion).