Plans for a new diner in Penrith have been unanimously approved despite police objections.
Members of Westmorland and Furness Council’s Eden local area planning committee considered the application at Penrith Town Hall.
Mr S. Dixon submitted the proposal for a diner serving food and drinks, including parking and drive-through facilities, on land opposite Lloyd Ltd, in Cowper Road.
It was put before the committee because it was a departure from the council’s development plan.
Mat Wilson, a council planning officer, told members that the application was recommended for approval subject to conditions.
Councillor Michael Eyles (Penrith South, Lib Dem) agreed with the officer and proposed that they approve the application. The committee voted in favour of his proposal.
According to a planning report, Cumbria’s neighbourhood policing team raised concerns of antisocial behaviour and the nuisance use of motor vehicles at similar establishments in the town, saying complaints from the public stretched available officer resources.
The report states: “Repeated calls to the same location for the same complaints are not sustainable.
“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.
“If, as the design and access statement suggests, the applicant proposes only to serve workers on the industrial estates, we request consideration of a condition to prohibit trading beyond 7pm.”
The site is a vacant plot within Eden Business Park, which lies next to the M6 motorway at the northern end of Gilwilly industrial estate, in Penrith.
