A WHITEHILL building used to give free accommodation to unemployed people, is to get a facelift after plans for BordonÕs first sit-down restaurant were approved.

A planning application to change the use of the Tindle Enterprise Centre on Petersfield Road from light industrial to a restaurant, was approved by East Hampshire District CouncilÕs north planning committee last Thursday.

The application had received widespread support from residents of Bordon and Whitehill, with 35 letters of support being sent to district planners citing the need for Òa decent sit-down restaurantÓ in the town.

Planning officer Chris Murray said that the centre was in a poor condition and that the scale and general layout of the building was not suitable for industrial use.

District councillors accepted Mr MurrayÕs view that substantial amounts of money needed to be spent on the building and voiced their support for the plans.

Zoya Faddy (Bordon and Whitehill) expressed her concern over the loss of employment units at the centre, but said a restaurant would be a vast improvement.

Mrs Faddy echoed residentsÕ sentiments that Bordon and Whitehill was in desperate need of a restaurant, that the site had adequate parking and that the existing enterprise centre was no longer viable as an industrial premises.

Michael Watkinson said that the centre had been Òrun down over the last 15 yearsÓ and said that it was Ònot a very attractive sight on the road between Whitehill and BordonÓ.

Dr Watkinson said that the restaurant Òwould enhance the landscaping of the villageÓ.

Although the application was supported in principle, concerns were aired over some of the details of the plans.

Some councillors picked up on the concerns of two local residents and the request of Whitehill Town Council that bollards be placed in front of the restaurant to prevent people from parking on the A325.

Anne Storey (Four Marks) was also concerned that, if proposals for two staff flats above the restaurant were accepted, staff would have to put up with additional noise and smells because there would be fewer restrictions.

She proposed that there be no condition stating that the flats need to be for staff, to give workers more protection and to give greater flexibility to the site.

The committee agreed to grant planning permission with a number of conditions which relate to parking, noise, smells and working hours.