A CONTROVERSIAL plan to knock through part of Lloyds Bank in Williton High Street and install new retail units has been approved.

In December 2015, West Somerset Council turned down the application which was submitted alongside separate but linked plans to build a supermarket.

This rejection has been appealed by applicant David Gliddon, the decision of which is due is May this year.

However on Thursday, West Somerset Council's planning committee narrowly approved a resubmission for 480m-squared of retail space with pedestrian access to Fore Street which will require knocking through part of the existing Lloyds Bank.

The previous application included a roundabout on Prest Street but this was not included in the application approved on Thursday.

However residents are concerned the plan will lead to the village losing its only bank and damage the viability of the Town Centre.

Resident Brian Timer said: "If you put a walkway through Lloyds you are going to lose Lloyds, which has more footfall than the Minehead bank bar three months of the year.

"It is vital to the village, we can't afford to lose it. You have 2,000 people that have signed a petition saying they want the village to stay the same."

A second resident Edward Martin added: "Not against change but it has to be the right change for the right reason. "The committee has shown great wisdom in declining Mr Gliddon's two previous applications.

"I believe he is breaking the big application into small chunks to get them in almost by stealth."

In his report to the committee, planning officer Bryn Kitching recommended the plan was approved, saying that as a stand-alone application it fit within the council's own Local Plan policy.

He also said that the committee should not make their decision based on whether Lloyds would relocate or not, as a commercial company that would be Lloyds decision only.

Cllr Peter Murphy said he had mixed feelings but felt this application could benefit Williton.

"Last time we turned this down, it was very much down to the supermarket.

"This application is not for a supermarket, not matter what we believe the applicant's future plans may be.

"And I think the walkway through Fore Street would enhance the street scene and shopping experience in Williton and encourage more people to come here."

However Cllr Keith Turner proposed the application be refused saying many of the issues with the previous application still existed.

"If you carve through the middle of the High Street it will spoil it forever.

"I am not against change, but I am against this sort of change. Put a walkway through Lloyds they will close, and they will not want to relocate. Once you've lost your bank, you will lose half your trade."

The application was approved with a number of conditions by seven votes to four.