A former fish and chip shop at Wheelock looks set to be converted into an office for a taxi company.

Congleton-based A Star Taxis wants to set up an office at 477 Crewe Road, in the former premises of the Family Kebab and Chippy.

The council's planners have recommended the scheme be approved.

But the application has been 'called-in' by ward councillor Laura Crane (Lab) to be considered by the southern planning committee.

She argued, in her call-in letter: 'This property is part of a row of terraced houses.

"I'm not sure that a business operating in very unsociable hours is appropriate for this property.

"The previous business only opened during daylight hours, closing at a time which allowed neighbours to relax in their own homes."

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The council's planning officers don't agree.

A report due to go to tomorrow's (Wednesday} committee meeting states: "The proposed office would be used for telephone and online bookings only.

"Taxis would not be dispatched from or parked at the premises and there would be no public access – headquarters of this taxi business will remain in Congleton.

"The application states that the applicant would like to operate from 5am – 1am. There will be no comings and goings, other than at shift change."

The officer's report states the change of use could be beneficial to neighbours.

"This application would provide some benefits in terms of the removal of the risk of potential odours, and the removal of vehicle movement and customers entering the building up to 11 pm each night [for the takeaway]," it states.

"These benefits need to be balanced against the proposed increased hours of operation."

The application would involve no external change to the building.

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The southern planning committee meeting takes place tomorrow (Wednesday, July 31) at 10am at Crewe Municipal Buildings.

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