High Street Success

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 9th Jan 2005

Local Lib Dem town and district councillors work hard to protect the character of Epping High Street. They keep a careful eye on planning applications and advertising consents.

The planning laws only allow the council to interfere so far- it's up to landlords to decide who to rent their property to for example. Certain forms of advertising and display are exempt from controls. But councillors have succeeded in blocking some extremely unattractive proposals at an early stage.

"I am very pleased that the shop front of the former Co-op pharmacy has been saved thanks to local objections," said town councillor Janet Hedges.

Poppy's coffee shop has also had to make changes to its shop front following objections.

Planning officers have been asked to check the new Costa Coffee on the old Curry's site requires permission for change of use.