Domino's Pizza moving to Shepton??

Do you think Domino's Pizza should move into Townsend Retail Park and pull more trade from our High Street. This is my letter of objection ref 2010/2894 addressed to Les Kimberley Mendip Council.

I am writing again to object about the proposed change of

use of Unit 7 Townsend Retail Centre, Shepton Mallet from A1 to A5 and erection

of ducting to the rear. I understand that the Council has received amendments

to the above planning application. I have studied these amendments and have

come to the conclusion that the chartered surveyor has totally and deliberately

misinterpreted the Councils request for sequential testing and has given a

misguided report on why not to use the High Street because it doesn’t reach the

requirements of Domino’s Pizza. May I point out that the” foot survey” is

inaccurate he didn’t include Commercial Road which is part of the town centre.

There are a number of Domino’s Pizza outlets dotted around

our area that don’t meet these requirements.

 i.e. Frome,-

residential area, no parking no rear access and opposite the fire station at

Keyford.

And Yeovil, situated right on top of the traffic lights

no obvious parking double yellow lines no apparent rear access. These are to

name only a few.

I find these stipulations in this report argumentative.

 What about the

needs of Shepton Mallet does it require yet another takeaway? We are very well

served with takeaways:

Ciabattino’s Pizza

            Town Street – pizzas 100% home delivery!!

Dominics Pizza

                  High Street   

 – pizzas  (has now been closed for 4 weeks)

Steve’s                                 High Street         fish and chips

Hong Kong Garden

         High Street – Chinese

Indian Bites                         Commercial Rd   Indian

Sunrise Chinese

              Commercial

Rd – Chinese

Mughal Empire                 Commercial Rd   -

Indian

Shepton Kebabs               High Street -   Kebabs, burgers and pizza

Whitstone’s                       Charlton Rd – fish

and chips

Speedy Kebabs                 Charlton Rd     Kebabs burgers and pizza

Most of these businesses are situated in the town centre

and to highlight the so called problems with access and parking we all managed

perfectly well.

I would think that 10 takeaways are plenty for Shepton.

The population of Shepton is miniscule compared to Frome, Yeovil , Glastonbury,

Street, Midsomer-Norton. Why do they want to come to Shepton, Shepton does not

need another takeaway especially a multinational out of the High Street. This

is such unfair competition for all us takeaways.

If they have to come to Shepton they should be made to

occupy one of the 15 empty outlets in the town centre, in the report they never

mentioned Commercial Cafe( fish and chip shop) on Commercial Road this had an

A5 licence and parking opposite ( between the Shrubbery and police station).

 The Council do

have a duty to decide the future shape of our town and make the best use of

what we already have in our town centre .The Council needs to make planning

decisions that promote vitality into

our market town, not encourage unfair competition out of the centre. We

should be encouraging business opportunities into our town centre, allowing for

sustainable fair development. We require a planning decision that protects our

High Street, giving the option to open in our town centre would most definitely

bring more footfalls into the town and then all takeaway businesses would

benefit. If we allow this multinational to open out of the town centre it will

have a negative impact on the vitality and vibrancy of the town centre. The

negative implications most definitely out way any positive advantage of the

proposed change of use.

We must also consider the environmental health concerns;

the proposed unit is only 50 meters from Somerleaze Park residential estate, we

need to identify their needs as residents.

 I am on the

understanding that Townsend car parks used to be a magnet for boy racers and

the problem escalated to such an extent that the police had to intervene, the

problem was resolved at a PACT meeting and barriers were put into place to

deter this anti social behaviour. What, if any measures have been anticipated

to not allow this problem to start again. The barrier will be a problem for

Domino’s to operate.

I hope the petition that I originally submitted is still

going to be used as an objection, I collected these signatures from my

customers who were horrified to think that Domino’s can just come and take on a

unit at the Townsend Retail Centre and not consider the town centre as a viable

option. I am sure these people still want to voice an opinion. Let us not

forget the lesson learnt from the filming in Shepton . Let’s save our High

Street and our existing businesses and give them a fair chance.