CONTROVERSIAL plans to change the use of a village café to a hot food takeaway have been approved despite major opposition.

Scores of residents and Mobberley Parish Council opposed a bid for a change of use at 87 Town Lane, Mobberley, the former home of the Quirkeee Café.

One of the conditions attached to approval of the change of use application is that deliveries, operations and opening hours are restricted to 7am to 10pm seven days a week to protect residential amenity.

The application to Cheshire East Council sparked 28 letters of objection from residents concerned about highways issues, amenity impact, litter, harm to the village character, light and noise pollution and a takeaway contributing to poor health and obesity.

The application also prompted a 114-name petition objecting to the plans, and 14 letters of support, claiming the takeaway would be a welcome addition to the village, it was better than the building remaining empty and jobs created would support the vitality of the village.

The parish council believed the hours of operation of the takeaway would cause amenity issues for residents.

It said: “This will undoubtedly have a negative impact on the amount of traffic that will travel to and from the premises during the proposed hours of operation.

“The current business hours do not impact upon the community in such an undesirable manner.”

The council was also concerned about noise and litter from the takeaway.

It added: “Mobberley is a village that desperately wants to maintain its village status, and a takeaway outlet is more in line with a business that would be found in the surrounding towns.”

Resident Andrew Foord said: “There seems to be no defence against someone opening a takeaway in the property next door or across the street.

“This property is surrounded by residential dwellings on seven of the eight points of the compass.

“It seems as long as you’ve got the right extractor fan, parking for three cars and the slightest of footfall from a quiet, local amenity you can open a takeaway anywhere now.

“Cheshire East conducted no evaluation of how this would affect local residents. They simply don’t care.

“Yes, this is a busy road during rush-hour, but in the evening, until now, it returns to being a very peaceful village.

“If this can happen to us it could happen to thousands of properties throughout the county.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re in a conservation area, it doesn’t matter that residents are so incredibly close, it doesn’t matter that the community doesn’t want it.

“Cheshire East will let someone open a takeaway operating until 10pm right next to your house.”

A planning officer’s report said: “Whilst the petition and large number of objections has been noted, there is no specific policy aimed at preventing such changes of use. This would bring a vacant unit back into active use.

“An assumption is made that a takeaway would constitute unhealthy food options. Whilst this can often be the case, the planning permission grants only a change of use.

“The takeaway could comprise healthy food options and ultimately it is the visitors’ choice as to choose a healthy or unhealthy food option.

“In addition, an assumption is made that an A3 café use is generally healthy. This can often not be the case.

“This is not sufficient reason to resist the change of use from a planning perspective. Irrespective of the above, there is certainly not an overconcentration of takeaways to this stretch of Town Lane.

“It is not considered the change of use would result in an over-intensification of the site that would prejudice the rural village character.

“The proposals are not considered to have a harmful impact upon residential amenity in respect of noise, light, or dominance.

“The parking available to the front of the site is sufficient for the change of use. Highways officers have been consulted and raised no objection to the works.

“As the proposal is in accordance with both local and national planning policy, it is recommended that planning permission is granted.”