THE GREEN light has been given to turn a newsagent in Broadstone into a new pizza takeaway venue – despite mass objections from residents and councillors.
Permission has been granted by BCP Council to transform the Broadstone News/Daily Echo newsagent in Lower Blandford Road into a takeaway.
It is believed the new venue could be a Domino’s, opened by applicant Hala Group – one of the largest franchisees of the pizza restaurant in the UK – although this is not mentioned in an official capacity.
The newsagents has been in its place for more than 40 years and residents objected to the plans on the grounds that there is already a very similar takeaway outlet 200 yards up the road.
Speaking at a recent planning committee, Broadstone councillor Mike Brooke objected to the plans, saying there is an “over-concentration of takeaways” in the nearby area.
He added: “[The takeaway] would replace a longstanding unit, thus reducing further the retail and commercial offer in this significant district high street.
Read more: Objections over pizza takeaway plan for Broadstone newsagent
“[The exisiting newsagent] is the only genuine newsagents in this district centre, adding to the retail outlets present.
“If approved, it would become yet another hot food takeaway and will add to what is an overabundance of such activity.”
Cllr Brooke noted the location would be close to an existing Pizza Hut, a fish and chip shop and hit out at the “continuous stream of delivery moped and cars which park wherever and however they can”.
Cllr Toby Johnson, vice-chair of the committee, disagreed, saying: “I just can’t see any planning reasons to refuse this if the inspector hasn’t seen anything wrong with the traffic.”
He added: “In terms of the noise, I have a little bit of sympathy, but I have lived above a few pizza takeaways and frankly I was never affected.”
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Councillors voted in favour of the planning officer’s recommendation to approve the planning permission.
Applicants Pegasus Group on behalf of Hala said the takeaway will introduce “an active use throughout the day time and evening at the site generating a good level of footfall and providing job opportunities for local residents".
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