PLANNING permission has been granted for a new pavilion and a multi-use games facility in Williton.

In June, West Somerset Council rejected plans submitted by Williton Parish Council and community groups Williton War Memorial Recreation Ground and the Williton Community Hall charity, because of fears the new pavilion would have a negative effect on nearby residents, but an amended scheme has now won approval.

In the original plans there was a hidden area at the back of the building which planners argued would attract anti-social behaviour.

However, West Somerset Council has now accepted the revised plans for the facility to back on to the GP surgery.

The councillor spearheading the campaign, Bill Vaughan, said: “The parish council is all delighted by the decision.

“The scheme will be a huge benefit to the village and a community area for people who live in the village.

“We are one of the only parishes in West Somerset to not have its own community centre.”

The scheme is likely to cost over £900,000 and aims to secure funding from a number of organisations, including Sport England, the Big Lottery and the EDF Energy Community Impact Mitigation fund given to West Somerset Council to be spent on improvements for communities most affected by the impact of the Hinkley Point C development.

Cllr Vaughan said: “The next thing to do is go about getting the funding, which will be our main focus in the first few months of the new year.

“We aim for the building work to start around 2016, but we are aware there’s more work to be done until then.”

The pavilion will feature a badminton court and a meeting room that will sit 150 people or 100 for a function, and improved football facilities.

The amended scheme has received some criticism from residents, with concerns raised over the size of the proposed building in particular.

Cllr Vaughan said: “We understand there are certain people in the village who don’t want to see any development on that bit of land and we have to respect that.”