FOUR Puriton parish councillors fought for the right to a re-vote on controversial plans to build a petrol station near Dunball Roundabout after claiming they were 'confused' by its terms.

An argument broke out at a planning meeting at Puriton Village Hall on Thursday (July 12) after three councillors chose to abstain from a vote to not comment on the plans.

Parish council chairman, Cllr Simon Langley, pleaded with outgoing town clerk, Tony Jay, for a re-vote as he said councillors didn't understand that if they refrained from voting they would not be able to support the application.  

"I am confused, I voted to abstain because I thought I would then be able to vote on my recommendation to support the application," Cllr Langley said.

"I didn't understand it, we should vote again."

The dispute came after John Mason, managing director of Falcon Retail, spoke about the company's plans to build a petrol filling station, a 2 metre long cycle path and a shop on land to the west of Dunball roundabout.

After a long discussion another vote was held and the council chose to support the application.

Councillor Mark Healey said residents 'want to see development' at Dunball.

"I have not heard anything to the detriment of the scheme," Cllr Healey said.

"We have 1,500 cars going in there anyway, it won't affect traffic."

Councillor Simon Langley echoed Cllr Healey's comments and said he thinks the project would 'benefit the community.'

"An immediate benefit to the community is the cycle path," Cllr Langley said.

"Perhaps we can be involved in its development. They have already listened to Sedgemoor and made changes like removing a fast-food drive-thru from their plans."

But Cllr Allen Barnaby said he is concerned that there would be no facility for lorry drivers if the petrol station was built.

Mr Mason said the petrol station will be open 24 hours a day for lorries and there will be HGV facility on site.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Mason, said: "I am very pleased members decided to support the scheme, we worked hard with the district council during the pre-app stage to improve our proposal and spent time talking to locals in Downend and Puriton before we submitted our application to keep them fully imformed of our proposals."

Representatives from Euro Garages also shared their plans to build a petrol station and two drive-thru units on land to the north of Dunball Roundabout.

A number of residents shared concerns there would be an increase in traffic on the A38 and said they had fears there would be an increase in noise and would be unable to cross the road.

One resident said: "I have been living in Downend for eight years and I had to use earplugs for the first time last year because of the amount of noise that comes from traffic on the A38.

"It has got significantly worse in the last 12 months."

Residents also shared fears that the petrol station would be open 24 hours a day and said they would prefer to see food outlets that sell local produce.

Rob Buffam from Euro Garages said the company looks at sites which have a large amount of of traffic coming through them and it would take the residents views into consideration.

Chris Silverway, a member of a local archaeology group, said the land was once the site of a castle and has 'high archaeological significance.'

Mr Buffam said Sedgemoor District Council is aware of the history of the site and the company will be submitting an archaeological assessment .

Councillors unanimously voted to object to the scheme but the final decision will rest with Sedgemoor District Council.