RESTAURANT owner Ashley Hunt believes Westbury is doomed to a mediocre fate if planning applications like his proposed extension are refused.

Mr Hunt and his partner have spent over £300,000 renovating the Garden House Hotel in Edward Street after they bought the former post office three years ago.

Since then the 25-seater restaurant has acquired a growing reputation, but Mr Hunt needs to bring in extra customers to keep standards high and still make a profit.

To do this he has lodged plans for a side extension to the Grade II listed building, which he says would leave its front unaltered.

The case officer at West Wiltshire District Council told him the application would be refused as it would alter the building's character.

On Monday Westbury Town Council backed the plan after members agreed with Mr Hunt that the district council planning committee should be able to "overrule the somewhat youthful

planning officer."

Mr Hunt said: "Westbury and Wiltshire are very short of quality restaurants and our efforts to create this type of facility deserve support. If we don't allow any quality commercial development then the town is doomed to a mediocre fate.

"The only structure that would be removed would be the two metal windows facing the rear of the building, which the public never see."

Mayor Horace Prickett said: "Things like this deserve our support. When you think what that place was like only a very short time ago, to see what's gone on down there is absolutely wonderful."

Cllr John Clegg said: "If the extension had been incorporated in the original plans it would have gone straight through.

"If the officer concerned had seen that building two or three years ago, he or she wouldn't be making the comments they have."

The application will be debated by the district council's planning committee rather than being decided by officers under delegated powers.