Plans lodged to convert Staffordshire village butchers shop into takeaway
A village butchers shop in Staffordshire could be turned into a hot food takeaway if plans are given the green light by council bosses.
Haughton has a pub that has been offering a takeaway service and a restaurant, but both have been affected by recent Government measures brought in to stop the spread of coronavirus.
The nearest hot food takeaways are several miles away in Gnosall and Stafford – but Haughton could gain its own shop too if an application to change the use of an existing Newport Road retail unit is approved.
A planning statement submitted to Stafford Borough Council as part of the application said: “The premises are currently in use as a butcher’s shop and is situated on the end of a terrace of shops.
“It is regrettable that the village will lose its butchers but unfortunately it is becoming increasingly difficult for such small enterprises to operate in competition with large supermarkets in nearby towns, increasingly popular farm shops and the butcher’s shops in nearby Gnosall and Stafford.
"The proposed takeaway will ensure that the property does not remain empty and will provide a facility to the village which it does not currently have.
“There are no other hot food takeaways in the village, with the nearest takeaways being in Gnosall and Stafford. The local pubs may offer a collect service.
“The takeaway will add to village facilities and currently such facilities in Gnosall or Stafford have to be accessed by motor vehicle, so traffic movements to such facilities will be reduced as local people can access on foot.”
If the plans are approved the proposed opening hours for the new takeaway would be 11am to 9pm Monday to Saturday – meaning it would close at the same time as the general store next door.
The statement added: “Parking is available off the main highway on an area immediately to the fore of the units which serves both customers and residents.
"It is considered by the applicants, who also own the adjacent general store, that the front parking area will suffice for all three businesses in the terrace.
“Currently only one person is employed at the butchers’ shop and it is envisaged that the takeaway will have an owner and a minimum of two assistants.”
