Planning Officers at Broxtowe Borough Council have now written their report regarding the proposed ‘change of use’ for 29 Villa Street. This report will be submitted as part of the agenda to the Development Committee, who meet on Monday 23rd June. Unfortunately, the report recommends that the Committee resolve to recommend planning permission and allow the expansion of the restaurant next door.
Their recommendation is on the grounds that no local or national policy exists which would allow any other decision. The detail of their decision can be read in the following PDF file (see page 20):
Broxtowe Development Control 23rd June meeting agenda papers
In spite of planning officers recommending planning approval, this does not mean the Committee will automatically grant it. Committees have gone against officer recommendations in the past. This is all part of the democratic process and we need to urge our local councillors to reject the advice.
It is very important for as many people to attend the Monday meeting as possible to show the Committee members the strength of support there is for retaining OOTW in its current position.
Local campaigners and supporters of OOTW will be outside the Town Hall at 6.30pm on Monday 23rd June with a banner of support. Please come along and make your support known.
Tags: Broxtowe, Fair Trade
June 21, 2008 at 6:53 pm
In spite of planners recommending ‘change of use’ on the grounds that it is not their job to safeguard particular businesses, I am still optimistic that the planning committee will find good reason to refuse planning permission. According to the planner I spoke to at Broxtowe Council, OOTW is in the main shopping retail area of Beeston. It should therefore be possible to argue under current planning policy (S1 in the Local Plan) that its loss ‘would have an unacceptable impact on the vitality of the town centre’ and therefore ‘change of use’ should be refused.
Given that the Council is working towards making Beeston a Fairtrade town by encouraging local businesses to sell Fairtrade products, it seems crazy to allow what is probably the biggest Fairtrade retailer to be removed from his shop.
I hope the members on the committee will take into consideration the huge support there is in Beeston to keep this shop where it is.
If planning permission is granted, there is something very wrong with the planning system in this country. Maybe we need to take a leaf out of France’s book where protection is given to individual retailers who provide a unique service in a town. This is why in France not every High Street looks exactly the same.