Domino's Pizza has been given the go ahead to open a new branch in Llantwit Major despite residents' concerns about littering.
Vale of Glamorgan Council’s planning committee approved plans by the fast food giant to turn the former Lloyds TSB bank on Boverton Road into a takeaway restaurant.
A Domino's representative at the planning committee meeting on 27th March said the Llantwit Major branch of the fast food chain will bring economic benefits and jobs.
However, residents and local ward member Cllr Gwyn John said they worried about the existing issues of litter and traffic getting worse.
They also argued that Boverton Road already has a high concentration of takeaways and that one more would be a step too far with Cllr John saying Llantwit Major has become the “takeaway capital of the rural Vale”.
Sarah-Jane Cecen, who is also a business owner in Boverton Road, said: “Recent changes…by the Vale council such as the removal of bins and a reduction in street cleansing service due to budget cuts have already made it difficult to maintain cleanliness."
“A new larger Greggs store for example has caused [a rise] in litter in the local town. Local businesses, including myself, and residents have met with Greggs to tackle this.
“However, a Domino’s pizza with its heavy reliance on takeaway packaging is only going to add to this issue.”
Vale Council, like other councils across the UK, has been dealing with growing demand on its services and high costs.
The local authority faces budget gap of £8.77 million in the financial year ahead and has decided to continue with its reduction in litter bins and street cleansing to cut costs.
As part of this move the council is also hoping to address fly-tipping and the missuse of litter bins. It is also installing recycling bins in certain locations to promote the correct disposal of waste.
Ms Cecen said the opening of a Domino’s will create “unfair competition” in the area and make it hard for small businesses to survive.
She added that parking is already a “significant problem” in town and that the opening of the Domino’s would make the situation more difficult for residents and visitors.
Cllr Gwyn John said Boverton Road is “cluttered with traffic” and agreed with Ms Cecen that a new Domino’s could affect local trade.
He said: “If you look at Boverton Road and the businesses behind you have got seven businesses [that are] takeaways."
“You have got two Indian, two Chinese, a kebab, Greggs, fish and chips. Of those seven,four sell pizzas. Then we can go to the cafes. There [are] two cafes…which sell pizzas."
“You have got an Italian restaurant that sells pizzas for takaways as well as eating on the premises. You have got two supermarkets selling pizzas and a great selection of them."
“In that small area, you have got a lot of pizza sales. Basically the majority of residents are against another pizza takeaway.”
Geraint John, speaking on behalf of Domino’s, said the new takeaway will bring a number of economic benefits to Llantwit Major.
On top of employment opportunities, he said it will also lead to the re-use of vacant commercial space on the high street.
Council planners noted in their presentation on the scheme to committee members that some work has already taken place on the building.
Mr John said: “The works undertaken on site are in no way any presumption of getting planning permission."
“Indeed, the works are simply and only in relation to dilapidations that are required for the previous occupier rather than this particular proposal."
“Of course, issues of commercial competition are not for the planning process to concern itself with, not least of course because this unit sits within the retail centre.”
Vale Council planning officer Rob Lankshear said he acknowledged the issue of litter in Llantwit Major and that takeaways do generate a “degree of…disposable material”.
He added: “There are bins available on the frontages of the property. It is also incumbent on…users of the premises to make sure they are disposing of their litter correctly."
“In terms of [the] means of controlling any such things I don’t believe it is the role of the planning system…to require litter disposal strategies and things for users which would take place outside of the planning unit.”
In relation to concerns about the concentration of restaurants and takeaways in Boverton Road, Mr Lankshear pointed to the presence of other shops on the high street like the pharmacy and pet store.
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