Former shoe shop to become bar despite concerns

Huntingdonshire District Council has agreed planning permission to convert the former His and Her Footwear shop

A former shoe shop could become a bar despite concerns about the effects it will have on neighbours.

The Barn St Ives asked to convert the former His and Her Footwear shop on Bridge Street in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, into a new bar.

An objection was raised about noise concerns, with one person adding that the area was already "chaotic and very loud".

Huntingdonshire District Council agreed to planning permission for the changes, after planning officers suggested any impacts could be mitigated by conditions.

The plans said the change of use would be a "positive use of a commercial unit" in the town centre and would create new jobs.

Two objections were raised about the plans, including from someone who said they lived opposite the building.

They argued that Bridge Street was "not the right place for a new bar", the Local Democracy Reporter said.

Concerns were also raised by a hairdressing business next door, which shared worries that people smoking outside of the bar might use the shelter of the salon's slightly set back store front when it was raining.

In a report, planning officers said: "A refusal on these grounds would not therefore be justified."

The officers also said no objections were raised by the environmental health team.