Statement of Consultation

Draft Retail Supplementary Planning Document

Consultation statement prepared in accordance with Regulation 17 (1) (b) of the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2004.

  1. Name of Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

Retail

  1. Purpose of SPD

The Retail SPD covers the centres of Ashby, Castle Donington, Ibstock, Measham and Kegworth and provides guidance on how the Council will determine planning applications for change of use applications for shops and other service uses in these centres.

  1. When the consultation took place?

During October 2009 to December 2009

4.Who was consulted in connection with preparation of SPD and how were they consulted?

A notice was placed on the Council’s website, the Leicester Villages Website, and inthe Ashby Life community magazine and the Ashby Times newspaper.

5.What was consulted upon?

The following notice was placed on the above websites and within the above publications:-

‘Are you worried about the number of takeaways in Ashby? Or do you think that they offer a welcome diversity to the area?

Either way North West Leicestershire District Council would like to hear from you. The District Council has a responsibility for granting planning permission for Hot Food Takeaways and would like to find out how local people feel about them.

Share your views with us by email , telephone 01530 454567 or 01530 454760, or write to us at Place Shaping, North West Leicestershire Distinct, Council Offices, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 3FJ.’

5. Summary of the main issues raised in those consultations

The majority of the responses came from Ashby residents. Of the 31 responses only one response was of the opinion that there are the correct numbers of hot food takeaways in Ashby. The remainder of the responses expressed concern that there are too many hot food takeaways in Ashby. The issues raised due to the number of hot food takeaways are summarised as follows:-

  • Litter from the takeaway premises being left in the streets.
  • Negative impact on retail sales and the character of the town.
  • A loss of shops and less variety of shops.
  • Traffic congestion and inappropriate parking outside the hot food takeaway premises
  • Anti-social behaviour problems being experienced in Ashby
  • Health concerns as hot food takeaways encourage unhealthy eating

In response to this consultation Ashby Civic Society also undertook their own survey and received 21 responses, summarised below:-

  • 95% of responses were of the view that there are too many hot food takeaways in Ashby.
  • 86% of responses agreed that the Council should limit the number of hot food takeaways.
  • 62% of responses were of the opinion that hot food takeaways should account for no more than 5% of all shops in Ashby. 24% were of the opinion that this figure should be 10%.
  • 86% of responses were of the opinion that hot food take aways should close at 11pm.

6. How have those issues been addressed in the SPD?

In light of the responses received and the concerns raised the Council decided to commence work on a Retail SPD to address these matters. These

comments were also taken into account when preparing the draft SPD. Formal consultation on the Draft Retail SPD will then follow.