AFTER a six year battle, plans for a supermarket in Williton have been given the green light.

After having an application for the new supermarket rejected by West Somerset Council, J Gliddons & Sons lodged an appeal with the planning inspectorate which this week proved successful.

“It has been a long process and we have faced setbacks but the report from the inspector agrees with what we have been saying,” David Gliddon said.

“The development will provide some much needed employment for the Williton area. In recent times we have lost the Paper Mill at Watchet, jobs were lost at West Somerset College and at Cricketer Farm in Nether Stowey,” Mr Gliddon added.

“We are due a huge number of houses in the next few years and a new supermarket will help accommodate the growing population,” he added.

There had been a number of objections to the Williton Supermarket plan, with hundreds signing a petition against it.

The planning inspector said he felt there would be ‘no serious likelihood’ of other stores being forced to close by the arrival of the supermarket.