A FORMER Post Office is set to be turned into a takeaway despite a host of objections, including from the local parish council.

On Monday, West Oxfordshire District Council’s (WODC) uplands area planning sub-committee unanimously decided to approve the change at the site of the former Post Office in Long Hanborough.

This came despite 11 objections being received and just three comments supporting the move.

Hanborough Parish Council objected to the change, although did say in consultation, there was an argument for making takeaway food readily available whilst Covid-19 ‘inhibits eating out or shopping for ingredients to cook at home’.

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Permission to use the building as a cafe had already been granted.

However, a planning statement from the applicant stated that despite maintaining a desire to operate a coffee shop within the village, demand had ‘diminished significantly’ since the planning application was first received by WODC.

At Monday’s meeting, councillor Elizabeth Poskitt said: “There does seem to be a lot of objections on the web pages, mainly due to it changing to a takeaway and not a cafe, and then the smell as well.”

She also raised concerns about parking, however, Merilyn Davies, district councillor for the Freeland and Hanborough ward, said there was parking access across the road which would ‘mitigate’ this.

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Oxfordshire County Council, as the local highways authority, did not object to the granting of planning permission.

Councillor Richard Bishop said: “I feel it would be an improvement from the empty shop there already.”

Despite WODC approving the change, many residents had shared their objections.

Helen Care said: “Although I recognise Covid may have changed use in the immediate short term, I still believe a takeaway cafe service would be welcomed and used right now.

“It would be very short-sighted to assume that the village’s needs will be the same in a year’s time, and the village has been crying out for a cafe for years.”

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However, another resident, Samantha Kempster, said: “It would be nice to have affordable takeaways within the area, after the most recent hike in prices from our other fast food service in the village.”

Joanna Clark also supported the change as she said: “I would much rather look out of my window and see a thriving business providing employment than an empty building.”

The proposed takeaway is situated in Main Road, next door to the Long Hanborough Dental Practice, which in turn is next to fish and chip shop, Off The Hook.

Following the decision by WODC, the former Post Office is now set to be transformed into the takeaway, including alterations to provide an additional front entrance and installation of a flue.