Application To Turn Post Office Into Takeaway Is Rejected
An application to turn the Post Office in Acklam into a new takeaway shop has been refused by Middlesbrough Council.
The Council turned down the application after deciding that it would be too disruptive to the lives of the local people who rely on their Post Office.
Due to the several takeaway shops already in Acklam, a new fast food outlet would also not be an essential or useful addition to the town.
Ronald Arundale, a Conservative Councillor for the Kader Ward in Middlesbrough said: “The application for a fast food takeaway in place of the post office was rejected on the grounds of the number of existing food takeaways and any further such would affect the vitality of the shopping parade.”
“By coincidence, I have just read that Birmingham City Council are putting in place rules to prohibit more than one in ten shops in an area to be a fast food outlet.”
“To add to that, I am sure people will be aware of the recent report that puts Middlesbrough second worst in the country for unhealthy eating outlets in their town.”
The planning decision was made after an application was requested in January 2015 by local businessman, Mr Kumar, who wanted to expand on the business that he already owns next to the Post Office.
The issue was brought to light during a recent Middlesbrough Council Meeting on February 2015. Gerald Pear, an Acklam resident, gave a speech on behalf of many people in his town who were against the application.
He asked the councillors at the meeting to: “Refuse the application regarding the Acklam Post Office and the Takeaway shops.”
He revealed that there was a great uproar amongst pensioners when they heard about this proposition, as many would not be able to travel to another post office in a different town due to their age and health.
The application resulted in a petition being signed by hundreds of people in Acklam and as a result, the issue was deliberated quickly by the Council.
Gerald Pear explained why he was so against the application: “I have used this Post Office for the past 45 years without any problems and suddenly everything started changing.”
“I believe the Post Office is a national necessity provided by the government. It is a good use for anything we need, such as stamps or our pensions. When we all heard that the Post Office was potentially closing, some people even started crying!”
“I’m part of a social group full of people aged in their eighties and nineties, as well as two local Councillors for Middlesbrough.”
“We get together every Tuesday night and when we heard about the closure, we had meetings and it led to a petition being started.”
“Everyone in the social group signed it and I also went round houses in the area. Overall, over a hundred people signed and as the lead petitioner, I then had the opportunity to speak at the Council Meeting.”
Mr Pear was pleased about the decision to reject the application. He said: “I was very impressed by the way it was all dealt with by the Council.”
“The Planning Officer visited the area and had a look round before making the decision, so it was all given a lot of consideration.”
Other residents in Acklam were also pleased about the decision to stop a takeaway from being built.
Farah Hodgson, 50, has lived in Acklam for over fifteen years and signed the petition to stop the plans from going ahead.
She said: “I’m glad this application has been turned down. This area does not need yet another takeaway shop, especially if it means that we will lose the only Post Office in Acklam.”
“I can understand why people were upset and angry when they heard about these plans.”
“It would not be convenient for them to have to travel to another town just for postal matters, especially older people who do not have access to their own cars and may struggle if they have to catch the bus on their own.”
She added: “Pensioners rely on the Post Office so that they can access their pension and other people may need to send parcels and mail abroad.”
“It is ridiculous to think that we would be expected to carry these items onto a busy bus.”
