Plans to allow a traveller pitch to be located on land on the edge of Glastonbury have been turned down by Mendip District Council.

A planning application for the proposed change of use of land to a traveller pitch, dayroom and stables, with associated works and hard standing on land at Dyehouse Lane, Glastonbury, had been submitted by Ms J Ellis.

The site is comprised of grassland but the planning officer said a tall fence has been put up without planning permission adjacent to the highway and the development seems to have been implemented without prior consent.

The proposed development involved the change of use of the land to a traveller pitch including a mobile home, a touring caravan, one day room and associated works.

Glastonbury Town Council opposed the plan, saying it was outside development limits of the town and citing its proximity to the flood plain.

Cllr Steve Henderson was going to be liaising with the planning officer, saying this was a retrospective application and that a site visit by the planning officer/enforcement was to be encouraged.

In refusing the application, the planning officer's report said: "The retrospective nature of the application is noted and the council will consider further action separately to this application.

"The proposal is considered to be unacceptable due to the harmful impacts on the landscape which in this instance outweigh the overall need for gypsy and traveller sites in the district.

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"In addition, insufficient information has been submitted to assess whether the proposal would result in an unacceptable increase in phosphate levels within the foul water discharge affecting the current unfavourable status of the Somerset Levels and Moors Ramsar site."

Planning applications in the Glastonbury area that have been submitted to Mendip District Council this week include:

Rear single-storey extension with the removal of a section of the existing external wall at Rookery Farm, Lottisham Lane, Lottisham, is wanted by Mr and Mrs J Mant.

Application to determine if prior approval is required for a proposed agricultural building at Rowley Farm, Sub Road, Butleigh Wootton, has been made by Mr R Chaddock.

Planning applications in the Glastonbury area that have been decided by Mendip District Council this week include:

Erection of a dwellinghouse at the former Methodist Chapel, Newtown Lane, West Pennard, by Mr J Bisgrove has been withdrawn.

Erection of hay store at Homeway Farm, Westhay Road, Meare, by Mr Max Stacey has been approved.

Works to trees in a Conservation Area T1 - acer - reduce canopy by 40 per cent, T2 - horse chestnut - all round reduction by 50 per cent, T3 - cherry tree - fell, T4 - ash tree - crown lift at Blenheim House, 19 Chilkwell Street, Glastonbury, by Ms P Gould have been approved.

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