Post by keith on Nov 16, 2011 20:01:50 GMT 1
PEOPLE worried café bars will dominate a shopping area will have to wait to hear if two proposals have been given the go-ahead.
Plans for a café bar and a restaurant in Newland Avenue were due to be heard by the council's planning committee yesterday.
NO MORE: Traders in Newland Avenue are against any more café bars opening, including Adrian Wright of Stamps Electrical.
But the decision was deferred so members could visit both sites to make a more informed decision.
While some think this will improve the chances of the plans being rejected, others think deferring the decision will prolong the inevitable.
Norman Elwick, chairman of Newland Residents' Association, said: "I think it is probably in our interest to defer.
"It is important the planning committee fully appreciates the situation we are discussing.
"One of the proposals is for the Heron Frozen Foods unit.
"If that goes ahead, residents in De Grey Street will have four large bars neighbouring them at the Newland end, the Adelphi in the middle, and numerous bars at the Beverley Road end.
"Princes Avenue was once seen as a shopping street, but it isn't now. There is a big concern Newland Avenue will go the same way.
"It is imperative we preserve Newland Avenue as a shopping area."
The planning meeting was held yesterday afternoon at the Guildhall.
More than a dozen traders and residents had turned out to hear the decisions on Newland Avenue.
The two applications they are concerned about are a café bar at the former Heron Frozen Foods and a restaurant at the former Tony's Textiles.
Planning officers had recommended the café bar for approval with conditions, while the restaurant has been recommended for refusal. Councillor John Fareham asked for both to be deferred so a site meeting could be organised.
The residents and traders' groups are against the two proposals on the grounds they will increase nighttime noise and turn the area into a predominantly nighttime economy.
Adrian Wright, chairman of Newland Traders' Association, said: "I am sceptical whether the visit will make a difference. We're hearing that, more or less, with a couple of conditions, they will get put through.
"The number of café bars is having a crippling affect on our rents – with one reporting a 50 per cent increase.
"Shops can't afford that, but bars can.
"A lot of shop owners are struggling to make a living.
"We need to increase the footfall during the daytime.
"There are only so many places people need to eat and drink."
Both proposals will now be heard at the planning meeting of December 7.
On Saturday, councillors and members of the residents' association will be at the Lambert Street Pop-In Centre from 10am to noon.
Residents and traders wishing to discuss the issue can attend.
Plans for a café bar and a restaurant in Newland Avenue were due to be heard by the council's planning committee yesterday.
NO MORE: Traders in Newland Avenue are against any more café bars opening, including Adrian Wright of Stamps Electrical.
But the decision was deferred so members could visit both sites to make a more informed decision.
While some think this will improve the chances of the plans being rejected, others think deferring the decision will prolong the inevitable.
Norman Elwick, chairman of Newland Residents' Association, said: "I think it is probably in our interest to defer.
"It is important the planning committee fully appreciates the situation we are discussing.
"One of the proposals is for the Heron Frozen Foods unit.
"If that goes ahead, residents in De Grey Street will have four large bars neighbouring them at the Newland end, the Adelphi in the middle, and numerous bars at the Beverley Road end.
"Princes Avenue was once seen as a shopping street, but it isn't now. There is a big concern Newland Avenue will go the same way.
"It is imperative we preserve Newland Avenue as a shopping area."
The planning meeting was held yesterday afternoon at the Guildhall.
More than a dozen traders and residents had turned out to hear the decisions on Newland Avenue.
The two applications they are concerned about are a café bar at the former Heron Frozen Foods and a restaurant at the former Tony's Textiles.
Planning officers had recommended the café bar for approval with conditions, while the restaurant has been recommended for refusal. Councillor John Fareham asked for both to be deferred so a site meeting could be organised.
The residents and traders' groups are against the two proposals on the grounds they will increase nighttime noise and turn the area into a predominantly nighttime economy.
Adrian Wright, chairman of Newland Traders' Association, said: "I am sceptical whether the visit will make a difference. We're hearing that, more or less, with a couple of conditions, they will get put through.
"The number of café bars is having a crippling affect on our rents – with one reporting a 50 per cent increase.
"Shops can't afford that, but bars can.
"A lot of shop owners are struggling to make a living.
"We need to increase the footfall during the daytime.
"There are only so many places people need to eat and drink."
Both proposals will now be heard at the planning meeting of December 7.
On Saturday, councillors and members of the residents' association will be at the Lambert Street Pop-In Centre from 10am to noon.
Residents and traders wishing to discuss the issue can attend.