Plans to build additional holiday cabins near the M5 in Somerset have been rejected by district councillors.

The Rookery Manor complex lies just north of the Sedgemoor services between junctions 22 (Highbridge) and 21 (Weston-super-Mare).

While the wedding venue ceased trading in August 2020, owner Ian Clapp continues to operate a number of holiday cabins at the site’s southern edge.

But Sedgemoor District Council has now vetoed any further increase in the number of cabins, branding it “one extension too far”.

A total of 15 log cabins were constructed on site before the council’s development committee voted to grant permission for a further 14 cabins in October 2020, and a further ten were approved in January 2022.

Under the latest proposals, a further 18 cabins would be built on land immediately to the south of the existing development, near the northbound arm of the services.

Local resident Mark Jelbert criticised the plans when the council’s development committee met to discuss the matter in Bridgwater on Tuesday afternoon (November 15).

He said: “Tourism is not at its heart – this is about recovering money lost from the wedding venue.

“There are no sustainable modes of travel in Edingworth, with the roads being agricultural and having an oft-ignored 30mph speed limit.”

Carla Searle, who sits on East Brent Parish Council, added: “A stop has to be put to this development.

“Otherwise, who knows how many more lodges will be applied for? The hamlet of Edingworth will be swamped.”

The site is currently subject to a live enforcement investigation following reports that the holiday lodges were being used as permanent residences.

Councillor Bob Filmer, who chaired the meeting and whose Knoll ward includes the site, said he was concerned about how rapidly the complex had expanded in recent years.

He said: “Edingworth is a hamlet of limited size. This started off as a development around the former wedding venue, and it’s moving beyond the natural cut-off of where applications have come from before.

“The site has been raised to mitigate the flood issue, but that does make the lodges more prominent in the landscape. I think this is one extension too far.”

Councillor Alex Glassford added: “I can’t imagine anyone would want to be sat out there on a sunny day. It’s too many in the wrong place.”

Councillor Alistair Hendry, however, argued: “If people want to buy a mobile home near a motorway, that’s their choice.

“Rookery Manor has to be allowed to be diverse. They’re trying to make the best use of the land around them.”

After around half an hour’s debate, the committee voted to refuse planning permission.