Surrey village divided over proposed tattoo studio
The store in Church Street, where the proposed studio will be based, has been empty for 18 months
At a glance
Objections have been raised over a planning application to open a tattoo studio in a historic street in the village of Cobham, Surrey
The applicant said he hoped to provide an “interesting and vibrant space that draws people back in”
Opponents have raised concerns over overcrowding and infrastructure
- Published
Plans for a new tattoo studio to be opened in a Surrey village have divided local residents.
True Tattoo has submitted an application for a vacant store in Church Street, Cobham, which has been empty for 18 months.
Applicant Christopher Perchard said tattoo studios were "destination shops" and bring in people from outside the local area.
Opponents said the shop would be “another tragedy” for the historic town.
The application received 91 objection letters and 42 letters in support, according to Elmbridge Borough Council’s planning portal.
Objectors said the studio would be a “niche services provider” which would not be relevant to “probably well over 50% of the residents of Cobham who shop regularly in the area”.
Another said plans would exacerbate infrastructure problems in the village.
Mr Acher said: “It is unhelpful to Cobham that this proposed service business will probably only succeed by drawing more people into Cobham.
“Our roads are already over congested and car parking is already inadequate and this particularly applies to Church Street as well as other parts of Cobham.”
Among those who wrote in favour of the plans, Miss Dempse said it would be “fantastic to see a new business in Cobham that celebrates and supports its artists” and another said the plans could be “a massive boom” to the area.
'Knock-on effect'
Mr Perchard said he was "disheartened" to read the objections to the proposal, and described the tattoo industry as a "huge part of today's mainstream culture".
He added customers could have a "knock-on effect" supporting other local businesses such as shops and cafes.
“In order to retain [high streets] councils have begun to realise the necessity to diversify the types of business that occupy these spaces, or they run the risk of resembling many town centres that lay vacant and disused," he said.
On Wednesday, Elmbridge Borough Council’s south area planning sub-committee will make a decision on the plans.
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