PLANS to turn a former Alresford bank into a coffee shop have been approved by city councillors.

National chain Coffee #1 is now set to convert the Barclays Banks building, in East Street, into an outlet with outside seating.

However, Winchester City Council's planning committee heard concerns over litter, noise and waste, with more than 50 objections lodged.

Reverend Natasha Anderson, of St John the Baptist Church, which is next to the building, was among those objecting.

She told the committee that the plans showed trade waste bins encroaching on church land, and feared that outside tables would block the passageway to the churchyard.

There were also fears that the takeaway coffee cups would be dumped in the churchyard by customers, and that noise from the planned air conditioning unit would affect grieving relatives' peaceful time at graves.

Defending the scheme, planning consult Elliott James confirmed that in order to address concerns bins would be stored inside the Grade II listed building.

He also said that the new air conditioning unit would be quieter than that which was used by Barclays when it was in operation, and the store was awaiting the outcome of a license decision by Hampshire County Council over outside seating.

Mr James added that the new shop would "create activity and vibrancy in the town centre".

As previously reported, New Alresford Town Council has welcomed the restoration of the building but said there are too many coffee shops already in the town.

However, the committee was told the number of such shops is not a planning issue.

Alresford now has only one bank, Lloyds, following the closure in recent years of Barclays and Nat West, further along East Street.

Coffee #1 will become the first chain coffee shop to open in the town following the committee's unanimous approval.

CONTACT ME

t: 01962 860836

e: michael.seymour@dailyecho.co.uk