Remove Unauthorised Vent

A LEIGH fish and chip shop has been given three months to remove its ventilation system, after installing a silver tube without the necessary planning permissions.

 Councillors on Southend’s development control committee have approved enforcement action against Leigh Chippy, in Leigh Road, over the external extract ducting and flue to the rear of the business.

 A planning document mandates that the business “moving the flue in its entirety” following a “breach of planning control”.

 The installation of the new ventilation system was first noted in October 2020 following a complaint.

 In February 2021 the council informed the takeaway owners that they needed to submit a planning application.

 Two separate ensuing applications were submitted, but both were declared invalid due to a lack of information.

 Despite a final reminder from the council in December 2023, no valid planning application has been submitted.

 Speaking at the council meeting, a planning officer said: “In the absence of any valid application, it has not been demonstrated that the unauthorised development does not give rise to unacceptable odours and fumes, vibration, noise and disturbance.

 “In the absence of noise, odour and vibration impact assessments and any professionally recommended mitigation, it has not been demonstrated that the development is not materially harmful to residential amenity.

 “The unauthorised development is therefore unacceptable and contrary to the National Planning Policy.”

 Bernard Arscott, Chairman of Leigh Town Council, said the incident should be seen as a warning to business to not ignore planning permission rules.

 He reportedly commented: “It’s a thriving local business and it’s a shame they’ve put themselves at some risk for their operation, by not following planning regulations.

 “It seems a straightforward thing to have done, to have got planning permission before they installed this and will probably cost them quite a lot to put right, to get the planning permissions and to get the necessary extraction flue.”

Picture: Leigh Chippy. Pic Google Maps

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