Botanist hopes to deck the pavement

botanist

New World Trading Company has applied to create a new dining area on the pavement outside the front of The Botanist on London Road.

The proposal is to create two small raised decked areas on either side of the doorway to the unit. Permission is also being sought to install bi-folding doors on one side and sliding sash windows on the other.

The decking will be placed on the pavement area and be constructed in reclaimed timber, to pick up on the internal theme of the bar. It will be enclosed by decorative railings and each area of decking will accommodate two tables, providing 18 covers in total.

Planning permission (reference 10/2181M) was previously granted, in 2010, for the introduction of an external dining area to provide 12 covers on the road frontage.

The applicant states "Whilst this planning application was never implemented, it indicates that the council were happy to accept the introduction of an external dining area on the frontage of this unit previously. As there have been no policy changes since this approval, the principle of an external dining area is still acceptable in this location."

Documentation submitted in support of this application states:

"Alderley Edge is a popular shopping and eating destination as well as being a vibrant local shopping centre. In designing the proposed 'alfresco' area, our clients are conscious that when weather permits people wish to enjoy drinks as well as a full lunchtime and evening menu outside. In particular and unique to Alderley Edge, people wish to be seen eating and drinking outside restaurants.

"The applicants now wish to introduce a small external dining area at the frontage to enable customers to sit at the front of the unit similar to those provided elsewhere along London Road. This will also act as an extra attraction to the customers particularly for shoppers. The modified window design will also allow for better natural ventilation."

The planning application can be viewed on the Cheshire East Council website by searching for reference 13/4982M. The deadline for submitting comments is 27th December 2013 and a decision is expected by 22nd January 2014.

Tags:
Living Ventures, Planning Applications, The Botanist
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Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

James Barker
Tuesday 10th December 2013 at 7:57 pm
Seems ridiculous, it is already a very narrow stretch of pavement, and there is enough issues negotiating past the Botanist on Friday or Saturday night with people spilling out all over the street, this will just increase the problem.
Chris Jones
Tuesday 10th December 2013 at 9:43 pm
"The modified window design will also allow for better natural ventilation"
I take it this means people won't be able to smoke on the decking then. I've never understood how bars can open up the frontage then have people smoking,they may as well be sat inside.
Graham McLelland
Wednesday 11th December 2013 at 10:14 am
Many yrs ago around the late 80s early 90s I was a member of the Alderley Traders Association.At one meeting it was proposed in the interests of safety for the MBC as it was then to adopt the pavements and make them safe for pedestriains by block paving .Well I know how little has been done by the council to make safe some areas of pavement Nothing!!,but I cannot understand how and why pavements can now be used by the shops extending their frontages either by decking or various ornaments,because all those paved areas now belong to to council.
Sarah Lane
Wednesday 11th December 2013 at 10:21 am
I just can't see there being enough room for this dining area. Fancy being sat outside sipping your wine and the No 37 pulls up at the stop. Not the best part of the village for outside dining.
Lesley Broome
Wednesday 11th December 2013 at 12:34 pm
Why? They have an outside area at the back of the restaurant for smokers.....
Chris Jones
Wednesday 11th December 2013 at 1:59 pm
That's exactly the point Lesley,it isn't really an outside dining area more a smoke shelter.
Terry Bowes
Wednesday 11th December 2013 at 2:11 pm
You can't walk past at night without having to shift people out of the way,either that or walk on the road.The Potting shed is just as bad during the day.
As for a smoking shelter out back,it can't get used much looking at the state of the pavement in a morning.
Richard Howard
Wednesday 11th December 2013 at 2:31 pm
What a brilliant idea......works ever so well at the Slug & Lettuce on Water Lane ...makes for a brilliant atmosphere
Stephen Justice
Wednesday 11th December 2013 at 5:16 pm
Well the usual killjoys, professional moaners and never seen at night people jump to say no to the vibrant and communal spirit of the restaurants which bring do much pleasure and of course both a significant number of jobs and injection of well needed business to the village.

The presence of a clearly delineated outside area will free up the still adequate footpath for the small number of passersby in the evenings.

And during the day there are rarely more than one or two people outside the restaurant.

Get involved you sour lot - it's good community fun if you only try it!
Sarah Lane
Wednesday 11th December 2013 at 9:20 pm
How do you know we are 'never seen at night' people Stephen.

Get involved with what? Community fun..... seriously. I would say it was more a case of extra profit for the Botanist, no problem with that, it is a business afterall.

Just don't understand all this pavement grabbing.
James MacDonald
Wednesday 11th December 2013 at 10:51 pm
Maybe we should all apply to extend our gardens out into the pavement making sure that there is still enough room for the illegally parked cars to use them.
Lesley Broome
Thursday 12th December 2013 at 7:24 am
Stephen I was just asking why when there s a smoking drinking area out the back.....If the pavement is wide enough and planning permission given, fine.... don't taint me with your preconceived thoughts, i party hard with the rest of them, just not a lot anymore,... We are becoming more french..eating outside in the hopefully again warm summer.
Margaret Woodall
Thursday 12th December 2013 at 1:37 pm
is this going to be another place wasting valuable electricity by having heaters on all day heating up the air outside, and do these people who use this place use the other shops in the day time probably not.
Thomas Ireland
Monday 23rd December 2013 at 11:29 pm
Doubt it's a smoking thing, despite the bus stop,a bearable inconvenience (at best once an hour that like in ARBG will likely be avoided by parking my car there?). More a sun, posing thing. One of the few uninterrupted sun spots in late summer eve and clearly wanting to be commercially exploited. Perhaps a deck 1level above and move the toilets? Not having seen the plans, I'd hope it would be discreet and not a land grab. Recall a few independent restaurants being forced to remove their modified decks because no perm's sought. .cafe type model imposed..seems an appropriate village standard to adopt? Or, are there different rules for the not so independents