MEMBERS of a Burnham football club are considering whether to appeal against a planning rejection.

MEMBERS of a Burnham football club are considering whether to appeal against a planning rejection.

A £20,000 sports facility proposal, put together by Burnbridge Wanderers Junior Football Club was refused permission by Sedgemoor District Council last week.

The plans, sent to the council in May, were to change a former agricultural site in Stoddens Lane into a new training ground, complete with changing rooms, storage for sports equipment, football pitches and car parking.

The sports club hoped the proposal would go-ahead as the teams currently train at a ground near Stoddens Lane and at a facility in West Huntspill. The proposal meant the 180 players and 12 volunteer coaches would have one big facility to use, rather than being divided between the two grounds.

Club spokesman Mark Berry said: "The club is very disappointed about the refusal. We are currently taking advice on whether to submit an appeal against the committee's decision.

"Although our plans were refused, the development control committee did agree with our aims to get the club its own ground and have instructed council officers to help us achieve this."

The district council received five letters of objection and 21 letters of support for the plans, although the club collected more than 400 signatures from residents in the area supporting the scheme.

A council spokesman said: "There can be no objection in principle to the provision of additional sports fields in Burnham.

"However, the Stoddens Lane site is not a suitable location in planning terms. The site is outside of the town and it may well be the case there is no suitable land in Burnham, an isolated countryside location is not the solution. Open countryside is protected for its own sake for the benefit of all.