Plans to improve the facilities at the Esso garage in Glastonbury have been turned down by Mendip District Council.

A planning application for the installation of a new jet wash bay; a new floodlight; a new air, water and vacuum bay; and two car parking spaces at the Wirral Park Service Station, Wirral Park Road, Glastonbury, had been submitted by the Motor Fuel Group Ltd.

The canopy height of the garage was recently raised, and Glastonbury Town Council supported this latest application as long as further landscaping was undertaken.

However, in refusing the plans, the Mendip officer's report said: "The application site falls within the catchment area of the Somerset Levels and Moors Ramsar site, which is currently in an unfavourable condition.

"Following additional consultation with Somerset County Council Ecology, given the increase in wastewater from the site which may contain phosphates, the application is an effected development type despite representing a commercial proposal.

"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:

Lawful Development Certificate for Existing Use or Development (CLEUD) for the use of land as a caravan and camping site and land used ancillary to that purpose at the Camping And Caravan Site, Ashcombe Farm, Stockbridge Lane to Steanbow, West Pennard, is wanted by Mrs Carole Peck.

Erection of rear single storey extension at 8 Dod Lane, Glastonbury, has been applied for by Mr and Mrs Davis.

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

Erection of a single and a two storey extension at 3 Merrick Road, Glastonbury, by Mr R Clarke has been approved.

Erection of extension to garage and replacement of house windows at Haze Cottage, High Street, Butleigh, by Mr and Mrs Laidlaw has been approved.

Erection of rear extension at Pond Place, Babcary Lane, West Lydford, by Mr and Mrs Dunn has been approved.

Erection of a first floor dormer at Applesteep House, Cinnamon Lane, Glastonbury, by Mrs J Adams has been approved.

Works to trees in a Conservation Area: T1 & T2 - Elm - Fell, T3 & T4 - Sycamore - Fell at Gorsedd, Coursing Batch, Glastonbury, by Mr Simon O'Neill have been approved.

Works to trees in a Conservation Area: T1 - Pitisporum - Reduce crown by 30-40% to previous pruning points at 3 Park Cottages, Benedict Street, Glastonbury, by Mrs M Torode have been approved.

Works to trees in a Conservation Area: T1 Apple - balance crown, prune and scale canopy to approximately 4m at 2 Launder Close, Glastonbury, by Aster have been approved.