Takeaway plans cause upset among Hunton Bridge residents (From Watford Observer)

Takeaway plans cause upset among Hunton Bridge residents

2:10pm Wednesday 6th March 2013 in News By Rebecca Perring, Reporter

Residents in Hunton Bridge have been left with a bitter taste in their mouths after plans to turn the old village shop into a hot food takeaway have been passed.

The shop, which currently stands empty as Hunton Bridge Stores, in Old Mill Road will now turn in to a hot food place after politicians dismissed residents concerns over safety and parking constrains.

At a Three Rivers planning committee the application was passed on the grounds the shop will not trade before 5pm or after 11pm between Monday and Saturday and before 5pm, or after 10.30pm on Sundays or Bank Holidays.

Over the years, Hunton Bridge Stores has been a post office and off licence and ever since the application was put forward last year, residents have campaigned against it because of the busy road and corner the shop is situated on.

Peter Bart and his wife Barbara, who have lived in Old Mill Road for 33 years, said the news was very disappointing.

Mr Bart, 78 said: "Residents are up in arms about the decision because of the safety concerns.

"You have drivers speeding down Hunton Bridge Hill over the 12 sleeping policeman and then frustrated they speed around the corner. There is a potential risk somebody could be killed.

"We also have the huge problem of parking around here, where is everyone going to park when they come here for a takeaway?

"We are disappointed councillors did not take the safety aspect in to consideration."

Mr Bart added he believed the shop would replaced by a Chinese food place and hoped residents would boycott the takeaway.

Gemma Saunders, who has lived directly opposite Hunton Bridge Stores for three years said parking was her main concern.

The 28-year-old said: "The shop has stood empty for a while, so I agree it has to be used for something.

"However a takeaway is not ideal. Me and my husband struggle to find a parking place near our house, let alone the people that the takeaway will attract.

"If parking was available it wouldn’t be so much of a problem, however now drivers will be pulling up all over the street trying to get their takeaway."

County council officers from the Highways Agency also dismissed parking and safety concerns.

Langleybury district councillor Chris Whately-Smith said: "As the ward councillor I had concerns about traffic and I expressed the desire for safety and parking issues to be examined by the Highways Agency.

"Our officers will now look at the grounds we may have to impose parking restrictions or a traffic order. "