ICE cream lovers in Somerset have been dealt a blow after councillors turned down plans for a new storage facility in Highbridge.

Marcello Di Mascio runs Di Mascio Ice Cream Vending, operating several ice cream vans from his base in the Edithmead area, just off Junction 22 of the M5.

Mr Di Mascio applied for permission to erect a new building on his land to allow his vehicles to be stored.

But Sedgemoor District Council has refused the plans, believing that it would amount to building into open countryside without demonstrating a strong enough local need.

The surrounding area is home to a number of small businesses, including a motor-home and caravan rental and maintenance company occupying the neighbouring business units.

Planning officer Liam Evans said in his report: “Within the curtilage of the dwelling is an existing building used for the storage of ice cream vans and associated stock

“This was granted consent to be converted into an accessible holiday let in 2016.

“The internal space [of the new building] is intended to provide for four ice cream vans as well as freezers, a dry store, trolley store and tool store.”

Burnham Without Parish Council supported the application, with parish clerk Richard Young stating: “It will not be readily seen from the highway and will not have a detrimental impact upon any neighbouring residential property.”

Somerset County Council’s highways team also offered no objection, claiming that there was adequate visibility on the entry and exit road from the site onto the busy A38.

District councillors disagreed, however, when the plans came before the Sedgemoor development committee in Bridgwater on Tuesday morning (July 3).

Mr Di Mascio was due to speak at the meeting, but was unable to attend due to ill health, according to committee chairman Bob Filmer.

Under the council’s Local Plan, applications into open countryside have to “demonstrate specific countryside needs”, such as agricultural necessity. This is designed to prevent anyone building into open countryside on a whim.

Councillor Paul Herbert, who represents the Burnham North ward, questioned Mr Di Mascio’s motivation for creating this building, given the plans he submitted to convert the original storage facility into accommodation.

He said: “Where does he keep putting the ice creams vans when he doesn’t need the buildings for that?

“There seems to be a pattern, and I am very uncomfortable with this pattern.”

Councillor Janet Keen, however, accused the council of being 'inconsistent' because of neighbouring units already being used to store vehicles.

She said: “I do not believe it would be right to refuse this application.” 

After less than 20 minutes of discussion, the committee voted to refuse the plans by a margin of twelve votes to two.