Cafe plan for former social club approved in spite of road safety concerns
Plans for a cafe in part of a former social club have been approved despite neighbours' concerns about road safety and parking. The new business has been cleared to operate in a vacant unit at the old Bardon Working Men's Club, in Coalville, according to documents published by North West Leicestershire District Council, (NWLDC), this week.
The owner was granted permission in 2022 to turn the building, at the junction of Bardon Road and Waterworks Road, into two shop units and six flats. The latest application is for a 'change of use' to allow them to open a cafe instead of a shop in one of the units.
A number of Bardon Road residents wrote to the council to register their opposition, saying they were worried the cafe's customers would add to traffic congestion at the junction. The business is expected to be open between 7am and 7pm Monday to Saturday.
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In a joint letter, they said they were also concerned a fence expected to be put up around the building's car park could obstruct their view when pulling out in into Waterworks Road in their cars.
They added: "There is insufficient parking as it stands. The traffic congestion is a major problem throughout the day and, even worse, at peak times of the day on the corner of Waterworks Road and Bardon Road. Vehicles do park on the pavement on both sides of the road which, causes tailbacks onto the main A511 Bardon Road."
However, NWLDC's environmental health team had no objection to the plan because they said it would not cause any extra noise or smell, while highways officials at Leicestershire County Council said they had no concerns about road safety.
The authority's planning officials said a cafe would not have "any significant detrimental impacts" on the neighbourhood. In their report, they said: "The site is served by existing parking provision and public transport within walking distance and therefore is accessible via different modes of transport. It is not considered that the proposal will result in any transport-related or parking impacts.
"Subject to conditions, the proposed use would not have an unacceptable impact on the amenity of nearby residential properties. There would be no impact on the highway or ecology and the scheme would preserve the character and appearance of the area. There are no other relevant material planning considerations that indicate planning permission should not be granted."
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