A HAIRDRESSER who lost a battle to establish a salon in her converted garage at Winwick, Warrington is making a new bid to obtain planning consent.
Tina Baker, of Birch Avenue, Winwick has submitted a revised application to the borough council’s planning department.
When Warrington-Worldwide reported the original planning refusal, back in May, it caused a storm of protest from readers who accused planners of making a heartless decision which would prevent Mrs Baker from running her business.
The original, part retrospective, application was opposed by one neighbour but supported by another, who thought the salon looked more pleasant than what was there previously.
Warrington Borough Council 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 increased 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, they claimed.
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.
In her new application, Mrs Baker says the salon would only be used by herself.
She says: ” I will not be having any staff. Since the last application I have removed one of the backwashes and one of the haircutting stations.
” The sign has been removed and blinds will be put up in the front window.”
Mrs Baker says there is ample room for four vehicles on her driveway. Her household owns three vehicles, but two are not there during her proposed opening hours of 9am to 6pm (Monday-Friday) and 9am to 2pm on Saturdays.
The interior of the salon as now proposed
