Cafe has permission in Chester suburb

Dec 7 2008 by David Norbury, Chester Chronicle

A CAFE has permission in a Chester suburb.

The premises, an end of terrace property at the junction of Christleton Road and Sandy Lane, were originally a chemist, according to a report.

Applicant Mr P Prescott told planning officers he was seeking approval for the change of use at 24 Christleton Road, which is currently empty.

The hours of business will be 7am to 6pm.

Sandy Lane occupier Mr N Burgess raised concerns about parking.

Although the area has double yellow lines, there is frequent parking he claims and the pay and display car park is often full.

Mr Burgess is worried that motorists will be tempted to park immediately outside the cafe or close to the junction and suggests the enforcement of parking restrictions is “virtually non existent”.

No objections were raised by the County Engineer and planning officers point out the car park is available opposite.

The change to a cafe will encourage the flow of pedestrians in the mixed residential and commercial locality, they suggest and will bring the vacant unit back into use.

They do not believe it will have an unacceptable effect on residential amenity.

Recommending the application should be approved, they argued the cafe will improve the vitality and viability of that part of Boughton.

The city's planning board agreed the change of use should have permission.