Planners at Stafford Borough Council have given the green light for a takeaway at the rear of the empty Baileys DIY in Stone High Street.
Plans were submitted by national planning consultants DPP earlier this year and have now been approved by the borough council. The building will be sub-divided to create the takeaway at the back. The area had previously been used by Baileys DIY, which closed earlier this year, as a storage area.
The building is Grade I listed and in the Stone town centre conservation area. The planning officer’s report says “care will need to be taken to ensure the new access ramp and railings, and any new signage, do not detract from the historic environment”.
Details of which takeaway will be opening – or what’s happening to the rest of the empty building – isn’t known yet. When the takeaway is open, however, opening times will be 11.30am to 11pm seven days a week. The front of the takeaway would face Christchurch Way, and there would be parking bays for three vehicles.
Dennis Abbott, who manages the nearby St Michael’s Community Hall, had objected to the takeaway. He wrote: “There is already a considerable problem at the hall with parking, litter and general detritus from the existing four takeaways in the vicinity of the proposed one in this application. I feel this will only add to the problem, coupled with the vandalism we have suffered at the hall due to late-night customers who have had too much alcohol. I therefore oppose this application.”
Other objections also cited parking, litter and traffic, and the number of takeaways already in the area.
