CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a 75-room Travelodge in Highbridge have been recommended for approval by district council officials.

Members of Sedgemoor District Council’s (SDC) Development Committee will meet in Bridgwater on October 24 to discuss the proposal for a hotel, 75 parking spaces, a bar and cafe, a refuse area and cycle storage for land to the east of Bennett Road at Isleport Business Park.

The application was sent to the development committee for debate by Burnham and Highbridge Town Council after members of the planning committee voted to object to the plans in August as they felt the proposals conflicted with the council’s vision statement – which includes aims to increase “local opportunities for higher skilled jobs.”

Councillors fear the development will lead to greater congestion at junction 22 of the M5.

Burnham Chamber of Trade said they shared the council’s concerns and members are worried the new development could have a “significant impact” on business for small hotels.

Dawn de Vries, case officer for the project, has recommended councillors approve the plan.

Mrs de Vries said the development will provide five full-time and 16 part-time management roles and will “generate job opportunities and compliment the existing business offering’”at Isleport Business Park, despite it not being a business class development.

She acknowledged concerns raised about the plan potentially contravening the vision statement but said its “not considered to be sufficient in isolation to sustain a recommendation for refusal.”

The council’s development committee will decide on the fate of the plans at the meeting on October 24.