Planning news in and around Midsomer Norton this week and at the Midsomer Norton Town Council put on their agenda this week what if anything can be done about the new gym moving into the old Argos building. Work is going on a pace there with a gym due to open shortly, possibly if like other branches of the nationwide chain, for 24 hours a day.

But councillors say they were given an opportunity to comment on what was planned for the building on the High Street, empty since Argos moved operations into Sainsbury's, because the decision was made up at the B&NES level HERE as a change of use application reported by Nub News HERE.

According to the agenda councillors were told by Dragonfly Leisure, that they predict a 30-40% reduction in membership as a result of the Gym Group opening in the old Argos store, which equates to a £180,000 - £240,000 drop in income. The application for a change of use was made in May and granted in July.

Other local planning news

Wisteria House , on the High Street, in Wellow, has applied to cut down a Lime Tree 22/03523/TCA

While 11 Rectory Lane, in Timsbury has applied to cut down an Ash tree due to dieback. 22/03515/TCA

The Silver Street development has applied for the discharge of condition 14 of the application.22/03496/COND

In case you needed reminding 18/02095/OUT is for the outline application for the phased development of Norton Hill Primary School, a 630 pupil, three form entry primary school (D1); up to 40 residential dwellings (C3); 64 bed care home (C2); 15 unit age restricted shelter accommodation (C3); public open space; and proposed highways works on and off site including provision of a new cycle/footpaths, road widening (Silver Street), 2No. bus stops (Silver Street), junction improvements (Charlton Road) and 1No. Gas Governor and Electricity Substation, with associated works.)

Planning decisions made by B&NES include:

Under a resubmission, 14 Springfield Buildings in Radstock, has been given the go ahead to build a three -bedroom dwelling, with associated amenity space, refuse and recycling storage and parking, to follow demolition of existing boundary wall.

An application by 19 - 20 Elm Terrace, in Westfield to build a new detached house on a plot to the rear of No. 19, has been refused. Part of the decision reasoning was that the scale and siting of the dwelling, and creation of a largely blank façade would result in a sense of overbearing and enclosure to the dwellings on Tanner Close.

28 Woodborough Road, in Radstock has been given planning permission to build a single story side extension.

Planners have ruled that there is no objection to tree works at 11 Bath Old Road, in Radstock including cutting back a Yew tree.

While in Southfield, 31 Frome Road, has been given permission to fell an Ash and a Cypress tree.

Planning decisions made this week by Mendip include:

An application for prior approval from Manor Farm on Hay Street in Ston Easton of agricultural development for a proposed building, has been refused.

An application by Fair View House on Hill to Green Street in Hemington to build a detached single storey annex, following the demolition of an existing outbuilding, has been approved.