Council opposes plan to convert disused Budleigh sorting office

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.exmouthjournal.co.uk/news/bu ... -1-5264450" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Town councillors have again opposed an application to convert a disused sorting office in Budleigh Salterton.

At a meeting on Monday (October 30), the town council’s planning committee refused to support an application to turn the former Royal Mail building, in High Street, into a pub.

Previously the council had opposed the proposal arguing that noise from the pub would cause a loss of amenity to neighbouring properties.

At the meeting this week, councillors agreed that a glass acoustic screen added to the plan does not settle that issue.

Deputy mayor councillor Tom Wright said: “The glazed wall will not affect any real sound. It’s not that high and the sound will go straight over.

“Within two feet of that wall there is a bedroom window and it’s totally unreasonable to allow the noise of a boisterous beer terrace and smokers area.”

The former sorting office has been closed since Royal Mail moved its Budleigh operations into the Exmouth premises last year.

If the planned transformation of the building were to go ahead, the sorting office would be transformed into a two-storey pub with a residential apartment.

The pub would have a main bar and restaurant area, a smaller bar or lounge area and a beer garden to the rear.

On the first floor, there would also be a roof terrace, a secondary overflow bar area, a function room and an office.

Town councillors voted to oppose the application at the meeting on Monday, due to the loss of amenity caused to neighbouring properties.

East Devon’s environmental health department previously recommended that the use of the garden area should not start before the start of normal trading hours and should finish at dusk or 9pm – which ever ones comes first.

At this week’s meeting, planning committee chairman Courtney Richards said that he didn’t see how that could be policed.

Councillor Chris Kitson added: “They (the applicant) say a major part of the activity underpinning their business is the outdoor environment.”

East Devon District Council will make the final decision on the application.