PLANNING chiefs from Warrington are to visit a fashion boutique which is the subject of a controversial plan to convert it to a hot food takeaway.
The borough council’s development control committee is to visit the shop at Chaise Meadow, Heatley Mere, Lymm after hearing that almost 100 nearby residents are opposing the change of use.
Lymm Parish Council has also objecting strongly.
The committee agreed to the site visit after Coun Sheila Woodyatt pointed out that a number of new members had never seen it.
It is only 10 months since the boutique opened and next door but one is another shop which already has planning consent for a takeaway. 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 and question the need for another takeaway, 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, they say.
