16 February 2013 Last updated at 05:51 ET

Stroud ice cream factory given parlour permission

The work is "more about improving what is there", the general manager said

An ice cream factory in Stroud has been given the green light to build a "parlour" at its beauty spot site.

Winstones Ice Cream, which has been based on Rodborough Common for almost 90 years, wants to improve its current sales kiosk.

The company tweeted: "Glorious news - after trying for more than 20 years we finally have planning permission granted to build our parlour."

For decades the site has been popular with visitors to the common.

Colin Mean, general manager, said the work was more about improving what was there rather than a new development.

He said an original application for a sit-down ice cream parlour was submitted 20 years ago but rejected by planners.

Nothing further had been done until six months ago when a revised scaled down plan was submitted.

The work is expected to be complete by next winter.

Rodborough Common, which overlooks Stroud and the Severn Vale, is well known for its wild flowers and butterflies.