B&NES Council’s Development Control Committee will meet on

today to decide the fate of an application to transform Midsomer Norton South Railway Station.

The plans have been scaled down slightly from the original proposal, which wanted retail and work units on site, but these have been scrapped and will see a new maintenance shed, café, retail facilities and meeting space. Under the plans, the existing WC building would be extended and refurbished, with an education, training room and site office, and a museum above. There would be a workshop building and change of use of the former stable building to accommodate two one-bedroom tourist units.

The plans, which have the support of Midsomer Norton Town Council, and MP, Jacob Rees-Mogg, have been referred to committee following objections from Westfield Parish Council, concerned about overdevelopment of the site, car parking and pedestrian safety.

In a report, the B&NES Planning Officer, who has recommended to permit the development with conditions, said: ‘It is considered that the proposed scheme has the potential to be a strong improvement to the public realm, activity and streetscene of this site, not least by removing the clutter away from the key structures.’

It also looks at parking; stating that visitor numbers are not as high as accounted for when original planning permission was sought in 2001. It notes: ‘At this point, it is difficult to quantify the numbers or to sustain an argument that the upsurge in visits will be as such as to warrant a refusal on highways safety grounds.’

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

Norton Hill School and South Road car park have accommodated station visitors in recent years, and the report says that shuttle bus schemes have, and could also be used in future.