COUNCILLORS have given their support to fish and chips being served from a seafront newsagents.

A planning application for a change of use for Quality Corner in Broad Street, Lyme Regis, has been submitted to Dorset Council.

Owner Nick Tarrant is looking to change the premises from a shop to mixed use as a shop and hot food takeaway.

The application was discussed at Lyme Regis Town Council’s planning committee meeting on Tuesday, in which councillors recommend the plans for approval.

In the planning application’s design and access statement, it said: “The applicant seeks the change of use so the premises can be operated as a fish and chip shop to complement the existing retail use.

“No changes to the listed building are proposed, other than the installation of a vent within the existing ground floor window in the building’s northern elevation facing onto Broad Street.

“It is considered that the use of the building as a fish and chip shop is a traditional use that would be expected in a seaside town like Lyme Regis.

“While there are other fish and chip shops within the town, there are none in the immediate vicinity of the site. Following the recent acquisition of the Rock Point Inn by St Austell Brewery, The Cobb Gate fish and chip shop and kebab takeaway premises have both closed.

“It is therefore considered that the new hot food takeaway premises would be an appropriate, small scale use within the town centre, which is unlikely to lead to significant adverse impacts on the town centre. In addition, the provision of an additional fish and chip shop use would maintain an appropriate concentration and mix of retail and other town centre uses to protect the vitality and viability of Lyme Regis.

“The change of use would not result in the loss of a ground-floor retail use and it would maintain an active retail use.

“The proposed development for a change of use would not harm the significance, character and appearance or setting of the listed building or the neighbouring listed buildings.

“Further, the proposal would protect the viability and vitality of the town centre while supporting the building current optimal use as retail premises.”

The application can be found at www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk under WD/D/19/000849