THE COMPANY behind a fiercely-opposed planning application on Ivinghoe High Street has defended the bid, claiming it has been subject to “a great deal of confusion.”
Efforts to convert a shop outlet into a food delivery service have been strongly criticised by a host of parties, with a common concern being that the property would become a traffic-generating take away shop.
At least 33 letters of objection have been received by Aylesbury Vale District Council’s planning committee, while both Ivinghoe amd Pitstone Parish Councils have voiced their opposition to the application, as has Buckingham MP John Bercow.
Waste disposal, increased noise and odour, increased traffic and a lack of suitability for the for the rural surroundings are just some of the many concerns put forward by affected parties.
In a letter to the planning committee, Mr Bercow warned that the environmental impacts of the plan merit particular consideration in an area where residential dwellings are intertwined with commercial premises, while district councillor Avril Davies expressed concern that the owners could circumvent planning conditions to operate akin to a takeaway shop.
However, Tring-based Thompson Bradford Architects, which is acting as agent for the application, believes a lot of these fears to be unfounded.
Company Director Peter Bradford told the LBO: “There appears to be some confusion regarding the nature of the premises, perhaps because food delivery services aren’t that common.
“Conclusions shouldn’t be drawn from the application, I don’t think my client would be silly enough to breach the conditions as he know he’d face closure.
“We’ve given it (the application) our best shot and jumped through a lot of hoops over the past year, but if it doesn’t get approved then it doesn’t get approved.”
The Local Planning Authority has recommended that the application is refused, as the proposed change of use would cause unreasonable levels of noise, smell and disturbance for nearby occupants.
The applciation is due to be determined at a meeting of the planning committee on June 7 at AVDC headquarters The Oculus.
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