Willenhall Liberal Democrats will oppose moves to let planning officers have the final say on an application to allow a change of use from a Florists to a Fish and Chip shop at The Brackendale Centre on Stroud Avenue.

The decision is due to go to Walsall’s Planning Committee on Thursday when Planning Officers recommend that the decision to Grant the application should be delegated to them subject to them being able to get satisfactory answers from the applicants on residents concerns about litter, anti social behaviour, late night disturbances and parking issues and smell.    

Willenhall Liberal Democrats will be urging the committee not to delegate the decision to officers and to let elected members on the Planning Committee decide once all details are known.

Why should it be OK to let officers decide when a survey of residents in the area shows that a substantial majority of them are opposed to the plan? Many are sceptical about any assurances that the problems can be addressed. So often in the past applicants have vowed that they would ensure that there wouldn’t be any problems in order to get approval, the reality is very different.