Change of use from A1 Class Use (retail) to A3 Class Use (restaurants/cafes) and use of garden for outside seating.

(By virtue of his declaration at Minute No. 93, Councillor Robert Tindall took no part in the consideration of, or voting on, this application.)

The Principal Planner introduced the application and with reference to the drawings displayed, he drew Members’ attention to the location, block plan and proposed ground floor plan.  

Members had undertaken a site visit the previous day and had viewed the site and assessed the impact of the proposal on the surrounding area.

Mr P Cooper, a local resident, spoke against the proposal in accordance with the Council’s Scheme for Public Speaking at Planning Committees.

Mr D Davies, a local resident, spoke for the proposal in accordance with the Council’s Scheme for Public Speaking at Planning Committees.

In accordance with the Local Protocol for Councillors and Officers dealing with Regulatory Matters (Part 5, Paragraph 15) Councillor David Turner, as local Ward Councillor, made a statement.  He then left the room, took no part in the debate and did not vote on this item.  During his statement, the following points were raised:

·         Much Wenlock was a tourist destination, had a high proportion of retired residents and had a thriving visitor economy as demonstrated by the Town’s range of pubs, hotels, cafés and restaurants;

·         The Town Council had originally supported the application when the red line encompassed only the building and changed its response to “no objection” following a revised consultation with the red line redrawn to include the garden area.  The Town Council had also received a letter from Wenlock Estates which set out its plans and its concerns to ensure that the growing ecclesiastical outfitters business, which had swapped premises with this one in order that it could continue to trade and thrive in Much Wenlock;

·         Any change of planning consent would not be exclusively for a tea room.  A3 Class Use (restaurants/cafes) had wider implications and any consent applied to the property, not the occupier;

·         He welcomed the choice that this food establishment provided and was keen to have and retain full occupancy of all of the Town’s retail units in these uncertain times;

·         He expressed concerns regarding the path between the Church green and this tea garden which was not a public footpath but was used as such.  Members of the public walked in close proximity to a number of residential properties around the town and especially so in Barrow Street.  However, they were walking, not sitting, for extended periods.  During the site visit it had been noted that there was a planting scheme being implemented and there was a shrub that partially screened views on Church House;

·         He welcomed the limited hours of operation and the intervention of public protection in matters of odour and noise; and

·         In conclusion, he urged the Committee to consider whether the assurances and conditions as proposed would adequately ensure privacy for neighbours, would keep disturbance to acceptable levels and ensure that a manageable compromise could be reached.

In the ensuing debate, Members noted the comments of all speakers and considered the submitted plans. 

RESOLVED:

That, as per the Officer’s recommendation, planning permission be granted, subject to

·         The conditions set out in Appendix 1 of the report and, in the interests of safeguarding neighbour amenity and the character and appearance of the conservation area, an additional condition to ensure additional bush/shrub planting takes place adjacent to the north eastern side of the garden/outside seating area bordering Church Walk; and

·         An informative requesting that the operator of the tea room adopts a no smoking policy within the garden/outside seating area.