Land near the former Argos distribution centre in Bridgwater could be turned into a temporary travellers’ site if plans are approved.

The Argos Distribution Centre  (known as Big Box 24) on the Huntworth Business Park closed in April 2021 at a cost of around 230 jobs as part of a wider plan to integrate the commercial operations of Argos and Sainsbury’s.

The land alongside the centre – which was put back on the market in October 2021 – was used as an unofficial travellers’ site between July 2020 and November 2021 as part of local authorities’ response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Sedgemoor District Council will now make a ruling by the end of the summer as to whether the land will remain as an officially recognised temporary travellers’ site – despite allegations being made by the centre’s new owner that travellers recently damaged the property and looted the building of its cabling.

The land in question lies a short distance from Junction 24 of the M5, just south of a waste energy recovery facility and opposite the land where a new motorway service station on Huntworth Lane has been approved.

Under the proposals, up to six travellers’ pitches will be provided on the site at any one time.

The site will also include waste facilities and a toilet block, with water being delivered in bottles on a weekly basis until a standpipe can be installed.

Angela Farmer, the council’s equalities and risk manager, said: “The site already has significant landscaping to the right, where there is an earth bund which separates the site from the M5 motorway.

“The site is accessed from the main road into the Huntworth Business Park. There is a clear entrance to the site, although should planning permission be given then improvement will be made to the entrance to include a better entrance and exit and better security.”

North Petherton Town Council – in whose parish the site lies – has given its official backing to the plans.

However, the new owner of the former Argos site – the Luxembourg-based property firm Eelvf IV UK – said the plans would jeopardise effects to bring the business unit back into use.

A spokesman for Charles Russell Speechlys (representing the company) said: “Our client is in advanced discussions to lease the property to a company affiliated with EDF Energy, which intends to utilise the highway as envisaged by that design as a site for Hinkley Point employees.

“Hinkley Point C is a project of national significance and the property is well located to complement its work, as well as being a prime location for EDF Energy, which already occupies the adjoining premises.

“Proceeding with this Application will prevent anyone from using the relevant part of the highway and therefore severely disrupt our client’s use of the property and the future use by EDF Energy, Hinkley Point employees or any other prospective tenant.”

The company further alleged that travellers had broken into the site in late-July, had “violently threatened” the on-site guards and caused “significant damage to the fencing and the electrics”, stripping out cabling from the building at a cost of around £300,000.

The spokesman said: “Our client is extremely concerned regarding the material potential for further criminal activity and incidences such as this.

“The situation, including the eventual eviction of the travellers from the property, required heavy manpower including on-site security guards, enforcement agents, a canine unit and a visit by police.

“The police alone were unable to monitor the area sufficiently to prevent the break-in, so increased security would be required to prevent and deal with further criminal activity if the change of use went ahead. Would the council fund these significant security costs?”

The council is expected to make a decision on the plans by the end of the summer.