COUNCILLORS have supported plans for the former Dolphin Inn in Wellington to be turned into a building for community use.

Applicants, Sleeps12.com, have applied to Somerset Council for permission for the change of use of the former pub in Waterloo Road into a community space on the ground floor, office space on the first floor and to turn a two-bedroom flat into a three-bedroom home.

Wellington Town Council’s planning committee met on October 7 and members were mindful of the fact that they had already thrown their support behind the project.

And Cllr John Thorne said: “I don’t think we can give an unbiased opinion on this because we have been working the with the applicants about the communal space on the ground floor.”

Cllr Andrew Govier said: “I don’t have a problem with this application, but it does look as if we are marking our own homework.”

Councillors agreed that unbiased comments about the application could not be given considering their early involvement in discussions about a new community space for the town.

But they asked Somerset Council to look at issues with some processes, including building control, as raised by resident Paul Land be followed-up as a matter of importance.

Councillors did, however, have some concerns about the building of two new homes at the rear of the Dolphin Inn in a separate planning application.

Cllr Mike McGuffie added: “Personally I think this is an over-development of the site – too squashed in.”

Cllr Janet Lloyd said: “The issue I’ve got with this is the design of the buildings – they’re not in keeping with the area.”

Cllr Keith Wheatley said: “Perhaps we could support the general idea of urban infilling, but tell Somerset Council that we’ve got reservations about some of the designs in this application. We can be positive, but also negative at the same time.”

Cllr John Thorne added: “I don’t see any planning reasons for this not to go ahead.”

Councillors agreed to support the principle of infill development such as that proposed for the back of the Dolphin Inn, but had a number of concerns about density and design.