A MARTIAL arts school is planning to open on an industrial estate in Taunton.

A planning application for Blaze Martial Arts and Personal Safety to set up in a unit at Venture Eleven, Priorswood Industrial Estate, has been submitted to Somerset Council.

The applicant, Bryony Pengelly, is requesting a change of use permission for the unit from storage and distribution to indoor sport, recreation and fitness facilities.

She also wants to display three non-illuminated advertising the business on the single storey premises, which have been vacant since July las year.

If permission is granted, the centre would operate from 5pm to 9.30pm on weekdays, 10am to 5pm on Saturdays and 10am to 8.30pm on Sundays and bank holidays.

It is envisaged there would be two full time members of staff and two part time employees.

A statement submitted with the planning application says Blaze's mission is to "inspire lives by providing safe and exciting fitness and martial arts training which develops physical, mental and emotional well-being and builds a sense of community".

The company also says it has worked with Avon and Somerset Police, Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership and other charities to deliver sessions for low-income families.

It adds: "With the opening of this new centre, we intend to further expand these programmes to enable accessibility for all and ‘at-risk’ groups in the local community."

The statement says: "Blaze offers dynamic classes designed to develop fitness, strength and stamina whilst building on core personal safety skills, such as emotional resilience and anti-bullying for junior students and conflict management together with self defence for teens and adults.

"It is our vision to create confidence and self-esteem throughout communities across Somerset, so that individuals have a greater sense of personal safety awareness and can live well without the fear of violence or intimidation impacting them."