People power defeats takeaway shops

THREE controversial planning applications on Lymm’s Heatley Mere housing development were thrown out by planning chiefs after a massive demonstration of “people power”
Anything up to 200 local people attended a meeting of the borough council’s development control committee to object to two proposals for hot food takeaway shops – one either side of a hair and beauty salon in Chaise Meadow.
Local councillors Ian Marks, Bob Barr and Sheila Woodyatt lodged strong objections to both proposals – and Coun Woodyatt also opposed the third application for a shop off Calton Road.
The council received more than 90 individual letters of objection and a protest petition signed by 286 residents in respect of the takeaways.
Objections were based on impact on nearby houses, parking and highway safety issues, litter, fumes and anti-social behaviour.
Residents also claimed they had been assured when they bought homes on the estate that there would be no developments of this type.
Planning officers had recommended both schemes be approved. They said the plans were in accord with the borough’s unitary development plan and that any impact on residents, highway safety and the character and appearance of the street scene would not be unduly harmful.
The third application, from local property developer Robert Foden, was for a single-storey shop unit adjoining the existing Co-op store.
But nearby residents voiced fears of parking and highway safety problems, impact on the Trans Pennine Trail and the effect on living standards of adjacent houses.
They also feared the possibility of the shop subsequently being converted to a takeaway.
Officers again recommended the scheme be approved and argued that there would be no impact on residential amenity or the Trans Pennine Trail.