WASTELAND allegedly once used by squatters and drug users growing “poor quality cannabis” could become an overnight stop for fishermen.

Councillor John Swayne, who is backing an application by Willow Fisheries to put two static mobile homes in a wooded area by the fishing ponds near The Boat and Anchor Inn at Huntworth, said: “I fully support this application. The owner has brought back into use a piece of waste ground which was being used illegally by squatters from time to time and for growing poor quality cannabis.”

He said the mobile homes would not be visible from public areas and having visitors would improve the area's security.

However, the application is recommended for refusal at next Tuesday's Sedgemoor District Council development control committee meeting, because a planning officer says the site is outside the normal development boundary.