Town councillors have raised ‘strong objections’ against plans for a new chemist to be built in Burnham-On-Sea.
Burnham Medical Centre had applied for planning permission to construct the new pharmacy on its site in Love Lane – however the scheme has been given a ‘thumbs down’ by the Town Council’s planning committee.
Members have lodged their objections amid concern regarding traffic safety issues, overdevelopment of the site, and competition with existing town centre chemists.
“Members were also concerned that the layout of the new development, along with difficult access off a busy road, inhibited parking,” town council clerk Eileen Shaw told Burnham-On-Sea.com.
“The pharmacy would add traffic to the site, and there were already many times when traffic could not access the car park because of manoeuvring vehicles, holding up the flow of traffic on Love Lane. With two schools nearby and a hospital opposite, road safety was a major concern.”
“There was also the question of the viability and vitality of the town centre. There are currently several dispensing chemists in the town and the Town Council had made this argument when Tesco stores applied for an extension to their store and had agreed not to have a pharmacy.”
A final decision on the proposals will be made by Sedgemoor District Council over the next few weeks.
