TEN years ago, the mood among businesses was upbeat despite a number of empty shops.

Traders were opposed to plans for a cafe and a restaurant in two vacant units in the town in June 2013 as they believed the premises should be used for retail.

Wellington Business Association vice-chairman Keith Wheatley said: “High streets everywhere are changing and there are not going to be the same types of retailers that we got used to seeing.

“There have to be some empty shops in order for people who want to start up to do so.

"There are perhaps one or two more than we would like, but we are not in a position where the town is crumbling – there are no reasons to be gloomy about it.

"It would only take two to be filled for things to look fresher.”

Wellington Town Council refused to back an application to open a cafe at the former Stead and Simpson shoe shop after a petition against the move attracted 1,400 signatures.

And dozens of objections were sent to Taunton Deane Council over proposals for an Indian restaurant in the Trade Secret premises.

Nic Nicola, of Fryday’s fish and chip shop, said another restaurant or takeaway was "unnecessary", while other shop owners said it would be detrimental to existing businesses.

Mr Wheatley added: “We have to have something of a vision of some balance in the town in terms of businesses.

"A town with tons of coffee shops isn’t going to benefit anyone – there has to be a degree of patience.

“I think from our perspective the latest application is fine because we could do with a restaurant – people just got the wrong idea about what the applicant wanted to do.

“The first application [Stead and Simpson] was different as there was some evidence it was going to be a national chain and some people jumped to conclusions.

"We already have lots of coffee shops and it might have run another out of business.”

It was also announced that dozens of jobs would be created with the expansion of Westpark 26 at Chelston, with work underway adapting the former Co-op distribution centre.

In town two financial firms had moved into a unit in High Street and a ‘revolving gallery’ was on the cards.