A PLANNED expansion of a busy M5 motorway service station near Wellington has been scrapped because planners said it could harm local bat populations.

Roadchef Motorways Ltd operates the Taunton Deane services between junction 26 for Wellington and junction 25 for Taunton.

The company applied in early December to extend the southbound services and carry out a full internal refurbishment of the facilities and business units within the existing block.

But Somerset Council has vetoed the development, claiming that too little information was provided about how any impact on bats would be addressed.

The service station opened in 1976 and operates 24 hours a day and includes outlets for WH Smith newsagents, McDonald’s, Chozen Noodle, Fresh Food Café, Cornish Bakery, and Costa Coffee some of which have outside seating.

The main building was given a minor facelift in 2018 and includes a gaming area, public toilets, and seating areas.

Under the proposals, the main building would have been extended toward the car park, providing nearly 2,800 sq ft of extra covered space for seating and a new restaurant.

It would have allowed food operator Leon to open a new outlet on the site, creating up to 13 jobs, as well as providing a larger area for Costa Coffee customers.

Astrum Planning director Rachel Reaney said when making the application: “The reconfiguration of the internal floorspace will allow for an improved and wider internal circulation route, which will be served by a new pedestrian entrance.

“The proposal will relocate an existing counter operated by Chozen Noodle to the north east of the building, to allow an improved offer at WH Smith.”

But the plans were refused through the delegated powers of council planning officer Gareth Clifford, who said: “The lack of information concerning bats mean it is not possible to ensure there will be no harm to protected species as a result of the development.”

Council executive director for climate and place Mickey Green said: “We have worked in a positive and creative way with the applicant and have looked for solutions to enable the grant of planning permission.

“However, in this case the applicant was unable to satisfy the key policy test and as such the application has been refused.

“They are advised to resubmit when appropriate wildlife survey information is available.”

Roadchef has not said if it intended to appeal the decision.