A LINDFORD Parish Council's planning committee has strongly objected to an application to change a shop into a takeaway. The proposal would see a change of use of the shop at 3 Elmfield into a fast-food outlet. Council members wrote a letter of objection to the East Hampshire District Council citing various reasons for permission to be denied. "The applicant's assertion, that there is off- street parking for at least eight cars in the lay- by and an additional 15 spaces at the rear of the premises, needs to be challenged. There are at most seven spaces available in the lay- bys, which are extremely well used at all times of the day. "At the rear of the premises there is a private car park with one parking space for each flat and only one for each shop, this therefore does not answer the need for additional parking. Furthermore, the public house does not allow its car park to be used by anyone except its own patrons," the parish stated. It added: "The parking requirement for eating and drinking establishments is one space per five square metres, whereas for a retail outlet it is one space per 20 square metres. The plans do not make it entirely clear as to what area is available to the public for the takeaway, but it appears as if it is 35 square metres, therefore a parking requirement of seven spaces would be needed. This number would add increased pressure on the already stretched provision." Parish councillors highlighted pollution as being a problem with the application and were worried that takeaway would exacerbate the current difficulties in the area. "Rats have been sighted in the area and there is concern that with increased litter from a takeaway, the number of vermin will also increase. "Despite the proposal to install a new extractor fan and flue, the fumes are unlikely to be disguised and will therefore cause discomfort to all residents of the flats. Furthermore, installing an industrial-type duct through the flat above the shop is hardly appropriate for residential premises. "The proposal would inevitably lead to an increase in noise levels and vibration. This would be unacceptable to both the residents of the flats above the shops (these flats are already poorly soundproofed) and to those who live in neighbouring houses. The problem would become even more acute with extended opening hours," the letter explained. Members were also concerned about the safety implications, believing that residents living in the flats would be at risk, with only one means of escape in the event of a fire, via a stairway. The letter added: "The stairs are in a poor state of repair and there is insufficient lighting. The provision of a takeaway within this block would increase the chances of a serious accident. Furthermore, despite all precautions, fire can occur in modern food premises as a recent case in Grayshott has shown. This would be particularly serious in Elmfield Court because of the wood and plastic cladding on the upstairs premises." In the parish council's opinion, there are already a variety of takeaways in the general vicinity, including many in Bordon and Whitehill, some of which provide free delivery. The application will go before East Hampshire District Council's north planning committee for a final decision.
