BRIDGWATER'S Mansion House Inn will become a new 21-bedroom hotel and restaurant after being given the green light by councillors.

The former pub, a Grade II listed building in the town centre, has been derelict and had its windows boarded up since closing.

Bridgwater Town Council had objected to the plan highlighting concerns over parking and overdevelopment of the site.

Town clerk Alan Hurford said: "The town council would normally welcome any refurbishment that would bring a historical building like this back to beneficial use on the High Street.

"However our view is that this is overdevelopment and is pushing to the limit what can be accommodated in that part of the town.

"There is also the parking issue which is becoming more and more of an issue in the town centre."

Cllr Dave Loveridge highlighted concerns at the lack of parking, saying the High Street was already gets chock-a-block when there are shows on at the Town Hall and this would make it worse.

Cllr Graham Granter questioned whether the hotel would end up being used for Hinkley workers.

Stuart Houlet, Sedgemoor District Council development control officer said: "We have to deal with the application that is before us, which is for a hotel."

He later clarified though that in planning terms, the main difference between a hotel and bedsit was whether it was the person's main place of residence - with Cllr Peter Downing commenting: "So the difference is name only?"

Mr Houlet said: "We feel the developer is striking a good balance between providing reasonable amount of accommodation and bringing the building back into use."

The application was passed by 10 votes to 4.