Plans for a diner and drive-through in Penrith are set to be given the green light, despite concerns by police that officers are ‘overwhelmed’ by antisocial behaviour in the town.
A proposal for the 28-cover single-storey venue, at the Gilwilly Industrial Estate, will be discussed by members of Westmorland & Furness Council’s Eden planning committee on Wednesday.
The diner, opposite Lloyd Ltd on Cowper Road, has been recommended for approval by officers but police have raised concerns.
The force said: “This proposal raises concerns in respect of similar establishments in the town, which persistently attract complaints from the public of antisocial behaviour and the nuisance use of motor vehicles.
“The frequency of calls for police service to address these complaints can sometimes be overwhelming, having regard to the number of officers on duty and demands on these resources to other incidents.
“Repeated calls to the same location for the same complaints are not sustainable.”
It asked the planning committee to limit the diner’s opening hours until 7pm. Plans for the diner, which will have an 18-space car park, suggest its main trade will be for workers on the industrial estate.
The police added: “Although the intended trading hours have not been published, we seek clarity from the applicant on this issue — as the majority of complaints at other premises will occur in the evenings until closing, ie up to 11pm.”
A report to councillors said: “The site was granted planning permission for offices and industrial units in 2007 and in 2010, and for an entirely different permission for a haulage depot in 2015, none of which came to fruition.” It said the diner could be the driver for further interest in the northern section of the industrial estate.
The report added that the diner would not compete with the town centre and the closure of the Rooster Grill on Haweswater Road meant there was a gap in the market.
