Stealth Fireworks in Totton set to become amusement arcade

New Forest District Council has approved an application relating to Stealth Fireworks, which is opposite retirement flats in Water Lane, Totton.

The application, by Mr Yi Li, sparked a letter of objection from a resident at nearby Popes Lane.

Terence Combs cited the number of homes in the area and said residents were already having to endure noise from a late-night convenience store.

Members of the council's own environmental health team raised similar concerns about the proposed new arcade.

Plans to turn Stealth Fireworks in Water Lane, Totton, into an amusement arcade have been approved (Image: Newsquest)

Totton and Eling Town Council also cited the potential impact on nearby residents but supported the proposal.

"An attraction such as this could be positive for the town in terms of employment opportunities and additional footfall," it said.

READ MORE: New Forest District Council approves plan to extend Totton home again

The application said the proposed arcade would be open 2pm-8pm Monday to Friday and 10am-9pm at weekends.

It added: "Primarily, it is proposed that the arcade will be used by customers who have booked a time slot to visit. It is anticipated that each slot will be limited to 12-15 people.

"Each session would be an hour long, with time between each for cleaning. Walk-ins would be accepted for sessions not fully booked.

"Customers will pay for their sessions, with games/machines requiring no payment during sessions. The games within the arcade are strictly intended to be family-friendly.

"As such, there will be no gambling games machines on-site."

Totton and Eling Town Council raised concerns about the impact on nearby residents but supported the application (Image: Newsquest)

A district council report said the shop was part of a primary shopping frontage, which meant any proposals that resulted in a concentration of non-shopping uses would not normally be supported.

But it added: "The proposed use does provide a commercial frontage, offering a direct service to consumers.

"Overall, taking into account the nature of the proposed use and existing balance of uses within the frontage, it is not considered that the proposal will result in a harmful concentration of non-shopping uses.

"The council's environmental health team were consulted on the application and raised some concerns in relation to potential noise and activity associated with the use.

"While there are residential uses within the surrounding area, it is not considered that the hours of operation would be harmful to nearby occupiers."

Summing up, the report added: "The proposal will integrate with the existing pattern of uses within the context of the surrounding town centre and would not otherwise be harmful to the amenity of nearby properties."