Decision due on West Lynn butcher's shop move bid
Plans for the relocation of a village butcher's shop, which has been at the heart of its community for more than 60 years, will go before councillors next week.
Bosses of Priors in West Lynn believe moving to what is currently overgrown scrubland on Clenchwarton Road will secure their long-term future.
But, although council officials are supporting the new plan, they are proposing conditions to block any further shop development on the site.
The application came barely a year after the authority granted permission for an extension of the existing shop, despite some local opposition.
But papers to be presented to a meeting of the borough council's planning committee next Monday, March 7, say the business now feels expansion would only be a short-term fix.
A summary of the applicant's case, contained in the committee report, said: "This application seeks a long-term solution that removes the butchers shop from the core of the village to remove amenity access parking and amenity issues whilst maintaining the strong links with West Lynn village."
The application has been called in for committee decision by ward councillor Alexandra Kemp.
And public objectors have raised concerns about issues including road safety, the loss of greenbelt land and potential future development of the area.
However, supporters argue that it will help to address long-standing traffic issues in St Peter's Road, while remaining accessible for villagers.
Planning officials said the scheme is supported by local and national policies, though committee members would have to consider whether the benefits of the application outweighed any perceived harm to the countryside.
They added: "A condition is recommended to restrict the use of the development to use as a butchers/farm shop only in order to prevent a wider retail use of the development which would be contrary to the policies of the development plan."
