A TENNIS club committee says the club could become the casualty of a huge motorway service station and employment park plan near Bridgwater.

Bridgwater Lawn Tennis Club (BLTC), based on Notaro Way, Huntworth has objected to plans to build a new motorway service station and employment space near J24 of the M5.

The proposals submitted in January include plans for more than 850,000 sq ft of employment space which could provide for up to 1,200 jobs in a number of new buildings.

This would be alongside a modern, contemporary new service area, creating around 70 new jobs including a brand new amenity building with a unique roof terrace area accessed by an external walkway.

Fuel pumps for cars and HGVs will be separate on different sides of the service station building, with clearly defined parking areas for cars, caravans, coaches and HGVs.

Eight Electric Vehicle Charging Points will be provided as part of the proposals, in order to meet the needs of this rapidly growing segment of the market.

However BLTC, which has five tennis courts including three floodlit, all-weather courts, says if the development goes ahead, ‘the club will find itself surrounded by industrial units, a wider and significantly busier road, and the new motorway service area.

A spokesman for BLTC said: “Despite its proximity to the M5, BLTC benefits from being screened from the motorway and enjoys a location adjacent to fields which is in keeping with its mission to improve health and wellbeing in a safe and clean environment.

“If this development goes ahead then BLTC’s environment will undergo very significant and adverse change and the club will become a much less attractive proposition to visitors and members alike.

“We anticipate the membership numbers will decline and that parents will not choose to bring their children to a location to a heavy level of traffic, noise and pollution.

“It is event possible BLTC will cease to be a viable entity if people choose to avoid the area.”