DOMINO’S PIZZA COMING TO TOWN
Objections raised over plans for new pizza takeaway
THE Staffordshire Moorlands looks set to get its second branch of popular pizza chain Domino’s after plans were approved for the change of use of a town centre pub into a takeaway food outlet.
Planners at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council have approved plans for the change of use of the public house to hot food takeaway, installation of extraction/ plant equipment and other external alteration at the Alton Castle, Tape Street, Cheadle.
A decision report by case officer, Chris Johnston, said that the information appears to show that ‘Domino’s Pizza’ will be occupying the new proposed takeaway premises.
The application forms state that 126 square metres of floorspace would be changed which would lead to the employment of 10 full-time staff and 15 part-time staff.
The opening hours of the new takeaway would be 10am to midnight Monday to Saturday and 10am to 11pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Three letters of objection were received.
One stated that there were ‘too many takeaways already in Cheadle,’ while another highlighted traffic and parking problems, claiming the ‘car park is insufficient for staff, customers and taxi rank use.’
There were also concerns that the takeaway would lead to increased litter and claims it would ‘not lead to as many jobs as the forms state,’ while creating more competition.
Cheadle Town Council however, raised no objections.
The plans would not involve any extensions to the building and there would be no new ‘shopfront’ window, as often seen on takeaway establishments.
The external works would comprise small vents or ducts on the front walls and the repair of the main front windows which would be painted a grey colour.
At the rear, facing the car park, a large duct shaft would rise out of the catslide roof and would be behind an existing chimney stack, between the stack and the main rear wall of the building.
The layout drawings show the customer area and counter would be in the room facing the roundabout junction, with the kitchens in the part facing Tape Street and the part facing Queen Street comprising cold room, stores and toilets.
The taxi rank office would remain. Mr Johnston’s report added: “The site is in a very sustainable edge of town centre location and is within walking distance of much of the town.
“However, the takeaway would have a customer car park with six spaces. Some spaces may be taken by staff but it is unusual for a town centre takeaway to have any car parking at all.
“There is also ample public car parking available nearby with little need to park on the road, where in any case, there are parking restrictions.
“In any case, the six spaces in the back car park would have a higher turnover than the previous pub use as takeaway customers would spend far less time at the premises than pub customers arriving by car.
“Overall, the proposal would not lead to any significant parking and highway safety issues given the sustainable location, availability of nearby car parks and the road-side parking restrictions in place.
“The Environmental Health Section of the council has taken account of the specifics of the proposed ventilation and extraction machinery (and other machinery needed) to be installed onto the walls of the building, in view of the distance away from the nearest dwellings and other occupied buildings and also the current noise levels.
“The section approves of the Noise Report and its findings and the design of the machinery in terms of combating both smells and odours from cooked food extracted through the machinery and also the noise from the plant/machinery. Conditions will be added to ensure further restrictions to protect the living conditions and residential amenities.
“The proposed change of use to a hot food takeaway is acceptable in principle in this edge-of-town-centre sustainable location.
“There are other similar uses nearby so would not harm the character of the area and would benefit the viability and vitality of the town centre more than a long-term vacant building. The external changes would not harm the character and appearance of the Conservation Area and local residents would not be significantly affected by smells/ odours or noise due to the use of external plant/machinery approved by the council’s environmental health section and which would not create significant noise or harm to the appearance of the Conservation Area due to its design and positioning.
“Due to its location and the presence of nearby car parks it would not lead to significant parking and traffic problems.”