Published: August 21, 2008
Traffic fears could block creation of new Highbridge take-away

Plans to convert this former newsagent shop in the centre of Highbridge into a restaurant and take-away were given a luke-warm welcome by town councillors on Wednesday evening (August 20th).

At a meeting of the town council's planning committee, members expressed concerns that an application to change Highbridge News into a take-away could cause traffic problems along Church Street.

"We already frequently have problems with queuing traffic along this stretch of road," said councillor Janet Keen. "A take-away here could make the situation a lot worse in the run-up to the roundabout."

The newsagent was put up for sale as a commercial premises in July by the previous owners, David and Maria Morley, who moved to Bournemouth to take care of a relative.

Cllr Dennis Davey said the committee has no objection to turning the premises into a restaurant. "Customers would be more inclined to park their vehicles in the car park if they were visiting a restaurant here, rather than just briefly stopping outside and picking up a take-away," he explained.

A separate planning application to turn a former shop at 16 Market Street (pictured right) into a pizza take-away also got a cool reception from town councillors.

Cllr Keen expressed fears that Market Street was quickly becoming "a road full of fast-food shops."

However, Cllr Chris Williams said: "It is better to have several take-aways than lots of empty, boarded-up shops."

The council committee decided to raise concerns about food delivery vehicles adversely affecting neighbouring residents.

The applications will go before Sedgemoor District Council planners during the next few weeks for a final decision.