Concerns over plans to change Baxenden shop into takeaway
BAXENDEN residents have objected to plans to change a convenience store into a Mediterranean takeaway over concerns about the impact on the village.
Popular Accrington eatery Monte Cristo has submitted plans to Hyndburn council for a change of use for a shop to a hot food takeaway – ‘Monte Cristo Express’ – at the former Bargain Booze shop at 145 Manchester Road.
In objections sent to the council, residents have expressed worries that the proposed takeaway could cause issues for neighbouring properties, with concerns over ventilation and increased traffic and parking issues.
Manchester Road resident Caroline Douglas said she was objecting over ‘smell, parking, litter, noise’.
She stated: “As I live next door to this shop I would not be able to park up. I would not be able to open my windows for the smell. This is a residential area and there are plenty of takeaways in town and they all do deliveries.”
Nick Armer, a fellow Manchester Road resident, has also objected to the plans.
In his letter opposing the change, he stated: “I feel the proposed plan for a takeaway is completely inappropriate in the middle of a residential area. Having a takeaway would possibly attract youths hanging round, increased litter, possibility of flies and even rats.
“I am extremely concerned about the noise level this will bring at night time, especially in the summer months when we have to have the windows open at night.”
Residents discussed their concerns with Accrington and Baxenden councillors at a meeting held at the Victoria pub in Accrington.
Coun Terry Hurn said: “I am open minded about it but I am here to represent the local residents. If it’s done right I think it could enhance the area and could be beneficial. The shop is for sale. You have to consider that if it doesn’t go for this, what else would the building be?”
He added: “I know there are a lot of people supporting both sides of the argument.”
The existing Monte Cristo restaurant serves a variety of Italian food as well as an a la carte menu.
The design and access statement submitted by the applicant, Andreas Christodoulou, says the change of use will create four new full time jobs and they expect customer visits to be lower than for the current shop use and that the pre-application response was ‘sufficiently positive’ to pursue a full planning application.
The proposed hours of opening are from 4pm-10.30pm Monday- Friday and Sunday, and 4pm-midnight on Saturdays. When contacted, Monte Cristo said applicant Andreas Christodoulou was unavailable to comment on the objections and declined to comment further.