Planning news in and around Midsomer Norton this week:

In High Littleton, Leamore, on Scumbrum Lane, (details under reference 22/00129/CLEU ) the homeowners have applied for a change of use from agricultural land into residential garden. (Certificate of Lawfulness of Existing Use).

Over in Camerton, Sheephouse Farm, on Red Hill, (under reference

22/00161/AGRN) has put in an application to build an agricultural slurry lagoon. And St Nicholas Primary School, on Kilmersdon Road, in Radstock, (under 22/00141/COND) has applied for the discharge of conditions 3, 5 & 9 of application 17/05989/REG03 ( which was to build new teaching facilities with associated landscaping and canopies following the knocking down of some existing play equipment. It also includes putting in a new entrance door on the existing school building. Planning decisions made this week include: The former Prince of Wales pub on Dunkerton Hill, Peasedown St. John, will be allowed to be turned into three homes. Peasedown Council broadly welcomed the plans writing: " Councillors commented they felt the proposed transition of the existing building and surrounds into the three dwellings was in keeping with the area and the design maintained the original character of the building. However, concerns were raised about access to and from the site onto the A367. " In the application it was stated that Star Pubs and Bars who were the previous owners of the pub were no longer interested in keeping it going... " Which indicates clearly it was not considered a profitable concern, or viable in the long term. " There has of course been a well documented and substantial decline in the number of pubs in the UK generally. The change in consumers' social habits, improved living conditions and discounted alcohol being sold in supermarkets are believed to have, inter alia, resulted in many of the major pub owning companies rationalising their estate and selling off traditional 'wet' led sales driven public houses, which are no longer attractive to customers." The pub is being turned into two three bedroomed homes and one four bedroomed home. A loft conversion with Velux rooflights at 11 Glebelands, in Westfield, can go ahead after planners ruled it was lawful. Over in Showscombe an application by Double Hill Farm, on Double

to discharge condition 2 of application 19/05413/ADCOU (Prior approval request for change of use from Agricultural Barns to Dwellings (C3) ( four dwelling houses) and associated operational development), has been refused.