A GYPSY caravan site could be set up on farmland by the A38 near Wellington.

Planning permission is being sought to convert agricultural land beside the Rumwell Farm Shop into a site for 'gypsy pitches' and touring caravans.

When approached for comment parish council bosses remained tight lipped about the plans, which are set to be discussed by Bishops Hull and Bradford-on-Tone councillors next month, when a recommendation to refuse or approve the plans will be put to Somerset Council.

A number of officers from Somerset Council have already weighed in on the proposals, with Meg Collin, the authority's Landscape and Green Infrastructure Officer raising concerns over the visibility of the development.

Commenting on the proposals she said: "In principle the proposal seems acceptable from a landscape point of view, however there are concerns that it will be quite visible from the surrounding fields and the environmental quality of the land will be impacted by the development."

Jessica Picken, Nutrient Neutrality Officer at Somerset Council, has said the plans will need to demonstrate plans to mitigate phosphates at the site in order to conform with regulations that prohibit residential phosphate discharge from waste being loaded on to the Somerset Levels.

Somerset Council is aiming to come to a decision on the plans by November 27. If planners give the thumbs up four touring caravan spaces, four mobile homes mounted on hardstanding concrete, a 'day room', bin and cycle store and treatment plant would be erected on the approximately three-acre plot off the A38.