Plaza pizza plan panned by councillors

4:50pm Friday 2nd January 2009

Comments (0)   Have your say »

A CONTROVERSIAL scheme to open a pizza takeaway near Romsey’s Plaza Theatre has been boxed up and thrown out by Test Valley councillors.

The borough’s southern area planning committee went against the authority’s officers and unanimously rejected St James Developments International Ltd’s proposals.

The company sought permission from change of use from retail at 42, Winchester Road, to a pizza takeaway with a new shop frontage and extraction ducting for a pizza oven.

Borough planners received 64 letters of objection to the scheme from residents, many concerned about possible noise, antisocial behaviour, inadequate parking and potential smells.

There were also concerns that there were already too many takeaways in the largely residential area.

Romsey Town Council also opposed the plans which, it said, “impinged on the amenity” of neighbouring residents.

Town councillor, Ian Richards, told the committee the proximity of the proposed takeaway to the Plaza roundabout would “create a potential traffic hazard” and would encourage vehicles to cross the footpath outside the building.

Mr Richards added that, in his time as a police officer in the town, it had always been the policy to discourage young people from congregating in the Plaza area: “The town council believes the best use is to return it to residential use.”

In his report to the committee, borough planning officer, Paul Goodman, said the premises which have been empty for several years, had been marketed for retail use since August, 2007. He said there were already a number of businesses in the vicinity, including a small shop, a takeaway, a garage and a pub.