A STORM has broken over an application for a hot food takeway shop next door to a shop which already has planning consent to open as a takeaway.
About 100 nearby residents have lodged objections at Chaise Meadow, Heatley Mere,
Lymm – and there is also a strong objection from Lymm Parish Council.
The application – which involves a shop which opened as a boutique only 10 months ago – is be recommended for approval by planning officers.
Residents claim problems caused by noise, disturbance, smells, litter and traffic will have a damaging impact on surrounding homes.
They argue the development is totally inappropriate in the area.
The need for a takeaway is also questioned, given the existing planning consent two doors away.
But planning officers say there is no reason to believe the development will be harmful to the character of the area, and no planning requirement to demonstrate a need for a takeaway.
The loss of one retail unit will not compromise the service provided by the local shopping centre given the proportion of floorspace remaining in the parade and the adjoining Co-op store.
2 Comments
I am in full sympathy with the residents opposing this application. I do not believe that the planning consent category should be changed so soon after a development has gone up, particularly when residents were assured that the current consent does not allow fast food outlets.
While the officers may be technically correct that the application breaches no existing policy I will be pressing the Development Control Committee to reject this application and will do my best to strengthen our policies in the forthcoming review.
Bob
The council should be campaigning for a change in planning legislation. It is ridiculous that an objection based on another takeaway shop virtually next door carries no weight.
Also, any planner who says no objection on the grounds of parking problems can be sustained must either not have visited the site or be mentally deficient. If I had bought one of the houses near this shopping precinct and had to put up with the parking chaos outside my home I believe I would be driven to take direct action – with a shot gun! It is horrendous