4:30am Thursday 11th March 2010
By David Paine
A FORMER library in Worcester will be turned into a pizza takeaway despite major concerns about the impact it will have on littering in the area.
However, neither the city council’s head of cleaner and greener Mike Harrison nor West Mercia Police objected to the plans for the former library in Cranham Drive, Warndon, even though local police officers had voiced concerns to a city councillor.
Also, we previously reported in your Worcester News how nearby traders had claimed a new fast-food outlet could damage their businesses, which are already struggling, and lead to an increase in anti-social behaviour.
At Worcester City Council’s planning committee meeting, Councillor Alan Amos, Warndon, said he had met local police officers to discuss the application.
“They have grave concerns about litter problems,” he said.
As a result Coun Amos said he wanted the owner Besnik Meci, of St George’s Lane North, Barbourne, Worcester, and his wife – who have 12 years’ experience in the trade – to clean up outside their premises at the end of every working day, a bit like KFC do on and around the Elgar Retail Park.
However, Alan Coleman, development control team leader, said that would be hard for his officers to enforce. A fish and chip shop already operating nearby does not have to carry out such a task.
Coun Mike Layland said he had concerns about the application because of the litter problem but Coun Paul Denham said he did not think discarded pizza boxes are likely to be an issue as many people tend to take them home.
Coun Roger Berry asked whether extra bins could be provided in the area but Mr Coleman said it would be difficult to suggest where they would be best placed.
However, it was agreed that the possibility of replacing the current bins with bigger ones would be discussed.
Coun Keith Burton said that as police already operate in the area he thought they should issue heavy fines to anyone they see littering. “It wouldn’t take long for word to get around,” he said.
Meanwhile, the committee also heard the city’s planners want the new owners of the library unit, empty since it fell victim to council funding cuts in 2007, to remove the unauthorised metal shutter protecting the front of the shop from vandalism and replace it with an approved one.
Coun Amos said: “It just seems a bit daft. It’s more cost to a small business.”
The application was granted with nine voting in favour and two against, while one abstained.
Your Worcester News was the only member of the media to attend this meeting.
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