PLANNING bosses at Warrington have thrown out proposals to establish a hairdressing salon in a converted garage at Winwick.
They have refused a part retrospective application by Tina Baker to open the salon at her home in Birch Avenue.
Representations had been received from two neighbours, one who had objected and the other who had supported the scheme because they thought the salon looked more pleasant than what was there previously.
But planners ruled that the proposal was inappropriate in a residential area and could have a detrimental impact on a nearby local shopping centre.
They said use of the former garage as a hairdressing salon was likely to result in increase customer activity, arriving on foot and by car, in a residential area.
In a report on the application, officers said in certain circumstances occupiers could run small businesses, ancillary to the use of their home, provided it was small enough not to affect neighbours.
But what been created was a retail business that looked like a shop, had a shop window with a sign above it, and had two hairdressing stations, two washing stations, a formal reception desk and a waiting area.
Significant investment had gone into the business to enable it to accommodate a minimum of three staff and three customers, not including people in the waiting area.
The applicant had indicated she would not object to a condition limiting the staff to herself but this would lead to a situation where it became onerous for the planning authority to constantly check the conditions of the consent were being followed.
It could also be more difficult for the council to resist intensification of the business through additional applications.
