village shop change of use

:21st May 07: You may already be ware that there has been a formal 'change of use' application to convert the village shop to fully residential use. The application number is DC/2007/00490 and the notice was posted on the 11th May. Needless to say, if the change of use is granted the last chance we had to retain the shop will have gone and Shirenewton will never have a village shop again.

You can view the application itself via the Monmouthshire CC website (select 'Planning Applications'  on the left hand menu, then 'View Planning Applications' on the right hand menu under 'Affinity Items'. You are taken to the UK planning website. Here selectWales and Monmouthshire and then  'Search Applications' on the left hand menu and enter the application number above.)  

If you wish to object you should right as soon as possible to:

Planning Department, 6th Floor

Or you can send an email to planning@monmouthshire.gov.uk. You should get an email acknowledgement.

These are some of the points you may wish to make. You can download a template letter here.

 1.      The property is on the site which once held the village garage and village shop. Planning permission to develop the plot into houses was granted on the express provision that a village shop was retained in the plans. Clearly the change of use will go against this requirement;

2.      The application, if successful, will cause the loss of a village amenity which was of great benefit to the village community and especially the elderly within the community;

3.      The shop had initially been run very successfully. When the present owners purchased the shop it was a thriving village hub. Clearly, therefore, it has been proven that, with the right skills, the shop can be run successfully and can be economically viable.

4.      The environmental implications of the residents of Shirenewton, and surrounding villages, travelling back and for to Chepstow to get basic items such as daily and Sunday newspapers, pints of milk, etc are considerable.  Approving this application would directly contravene the Government’s objective to reduce road travel and the emission problems associated with this.

If the application is successful, Shirenewton is very unlikely ever to have a village shop again.

Please also consider that there are other planning applications ongoing which, if successful, will adversely affect village amenities. I refer to the Planning Application for Development at the Tan House, Shirenewton DC/2006/0790.

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