Domino's given permission for new North Wales store despite 'obesity' fears
Plans for a new Domino's Pizza in Llandudno Junction have been approved by Conwy Council's planning committee - despite concerns from residents, the local town council, and the health board. The committee met this week at Conwy's Coed Pella HQ and granted planning permission for Domino's Pizza to convert the former Credit Union at 144 Conway Road into a hot food takeaway.
The application had attracted objections from residents, with concerns raised about noise, traffic, and what some described as a saturation of takeaway outlets in the area. A petition signed by 42 people opposed the development, citing issues including late-night disturbance and increased parking pressures.
Conwy Town Council objected on highway safety grounds, while Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board raised concerns about obesity, saying the addition of another outlet predominantly serving 'unhealthy' food could worsen existing public health challenges in the area. But planning officers had recommended the application be approved, noting that the proposal would bring a vacant building back into use. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox.
Councillors voted in favour of granting the plans, subject to conditions, but only after local councillor Dave Jones' proposal to reject the plans was thrown out. Speaking against the application, Cllr Jones said: "I would say that this would affect the vitality of the area negatively - that's my opinion.
"Also, the fact it used to be a bank over the last few years, it was very small scale, and most of the people who used it were local, and they walked to it, which again has been a pain in the neck because it's closed, so people have lost their banking.
"I think we should reject the officers' recommendation here. It is just not going to do Llandudno Junction any good at all. Residents are only going to be more up in arms.
"As for the parking at the back, the two spaces, have you seen that street that goes down the side of the chippy and the proposed outlet? That is going to cause danger as well. The streets close to Enoch's (chip shop) and this proposal are already very dangerous.'
He added: 'People park right on double yellow lines, right up to Conway Road, and I'm amazed there hasn't been a major accident in Llandudno Junction hill already, but there is an accident waiting to happen if this proposal goes ahead."
Two other councillors backed Cllr Jones, but his proposal was lost on a vote, with nine councillors voting against refusing the application. There was just one abstention.
Cllr David Carr supported the development. "All the times I have visited there, it has seemed quite vibrant,' he said. 'It's all about choice, as we've said. There is quite a lot of takeaways, a few Chineses, there's already a pizza place, and they actually deliver as well.'
He added: "I don't think it is going to make that much of an impact, really, having one extra one. And as I said, they (the takeaways) all seem to be doing very well. I think it is local people that are using these, and we've got to give choice to people, haven't we?"
Cllr Trystan Lewis proposed the committee backed planning officers' recommendation, which was seconded by Cllr Andrew Wood. He said: "I sympathize with the points councillors have made, but I can't see what there is to object to on policy grounds. And if Cllr Dave Jones's proposal had carried, I think we'd be on very shaky ground in an appeal on the grounds that he made."
The planning committee voted in favour of granting permission, with 10 votes in favour and three against. The takeaway will operate from 11am to 11pm daily and is expected to create around 25 jobs. External changes include new front windows and doors, along with extraction and ventilation equipment installed at the rear, such as grilles, an air conditioning unit, and a cold room compressor.
Two existing parking spaces behind the building will be used by Domino's delivery drivers.
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