Plan to turn betting shop into restaurant dropped

Stoke-on-Trent City Council received more than 50 objections from local residents

Plans to turn a former betting shop in Stoke-on-Trent into a restaurant have been withdrawn following dozens of objections.

The proposal was to change the use of the Coral betting shop on Blurton Road, in Blurton, with the applicant stating the new business would be open seven days a week and create 10 jobs.

But Stoke-on-Trent City Council received more than 50 objections from residents, along with a petition signed by more than 130 people, citing concerns about noise and traffic, as well as saying there were already a number of cafes and takeaways in the area.

Council officers also had safety concerns about plans for six parking spaces outside the building.

Under the original proposals, some of the parking spaces would have been next to the existing pedestrian crossing on Blurton Road.

Revised plans moved these spaces to the side, but highways officers said they still had concerns with any parking spaces in front of the building.

It is not yet known if a fresh planning application will be submitted.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.