Berrow Parish Councillors last night (Wednesday) voted in favour of the village’s Post Office being converted into a residential home.
It now looks certain that the post office, in Berrow Road, will change from being a mixed-use residential and retail site to a single-use home after Berrow Parish Council’s Planning Committee decided they were unable to object on planning grounds.
The planning application noted that the nearby Co-Operative store in Berrow Road has taken custom away from the post office.
Cllr Barry Kew, who chairs the committee, told the meeting: “Since I’ve lived here we’ve lost several shops in the centre of Berrow – from a bicycle shop to a curtains and blinds business – which are all now private properties.”
Cllr Gill Wise said: “All the cottages next door were shops in the past so it makes it difficult to say ‘no’ to this application.”
Cllr Gavin McArdle agreed: “It’s difficult for the Post Office to continue if it’s no longer a viable business.”
Cllr Rick Jones noted: “From a parking view, it will probably be safer if shoppers are not constantly stopping on the double yellow lines there.”
Councillors unanimously agreed to recommend the plans for approval, noting there were no planning grounds to object.
As reported here by Burnham-On-Sea.com, in the proposal agent Greenslade Taylor Hunt says: “The shop is not located in a key shopping area and therefore we do not believe it would have an impact on the local communities.”
“Since the Co-operative shop opened nearby in April 2017, the day-to-day takings at the retail outlet have fallen significantly and it is therefore unsustainable for the applicant to continue and operate a shop facility in such close proximity to a competitor. The existing post office can potentially be relocated to a nearby shop.”
The final decision on the plans rests with Sedgemoor District Council which is expected to make its decision soon. The Planning Application number is 05/17/0017.
