Wine bar bid goes flat

PLANS to convert an Epping boutique into a wine bar were found unpalatable by district councillors.

Tracey Lane wants to convert Lanes Boutique in the High Street into a wine bar.

However the district council's area planning committee followed planning officers' advice and refused permission, concerned that the proposed use would lead to an excessive amount of non-retail units along the High Street.

Epping district councillor Matthew Colling, who asked for the application to be brought before the planning committee, believed there were mitigating circumstances in allowing the change of use to go ahead.

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Addressing the committee Miss Lane said custom had fallen at the shop by over 50 per cent over the last four years and had worsened over the past year.

She said: "The High Street has changed, they're more social places. I have to try something else and I want to explore the option of turning it into a wine bar. I want to keep the property as an independent store and not go to a multiple."

District councillor Janet Whitehouse said: "I have sympathy with the applicant but there are residents nearby who are against a wine bar and I know they are very upset when we lose a retail outlet along our High Street."

District councillor Chris Whitbread also sympathised with Miss Lane but argued that only very special circumstances would have to exist to extend beyond current planning guidelines.

He said: "It's difficult for businesses that exist in a marketplace that changes so rapidly. However we need more information to make such a decision but there are too many non-retail outlets coming to the High Street."

Six district councillors voted against the plans, with four abstentions.