Tea shop growth allowed

Planners have given approval to double the size of what was described as a delightful tea shop, despite objections from the parish council.

The owners of Manor Farm Tea Shoppe, Bleasby, want to expand the premises to provide a function room for educational evenings and demonstrations of bread-making, flower-arranging, spinning and quilting.

The room would also be used for weddings, wakes, business meetings, and wedding anni-versaries, but there were no current plans for a bar.

Mrs Marika Tribe told Newark and Sherwood District Council’s planning committee: “I would like to support anyone who teaches someone else to cook.”

The committee heard that the applicant’s parents, Mr and Mrs J. A. Goodwin, were originally given permission for a tea shop as a diversification of their farm. Their son, Mr Andrew Goodwin, and his wife now ran the business and wanted to expand.

Mr Derek Whitman, of the parish council, told the committee: “We are well aware of the appeal of the place. It is a venue held much in the affections of the parishioners.

“Do we try and stand in the way of progress? We sincerely believe the neighbours’ amenity and quality of life can only deteriorate.

“There are seven such individual properties within 140 yards of the tea shop site. In the last year one or two have had occasions where their evenings have been disrupted. This does not give us confidence in the future.

“Bleasby does not need such an enterprise on its doorstep. It could have an impact on the income of our volunteer-run village hall and some effect could also be suffered by our one remaining public house.”

Mr Roger Blaney, whose ward covers Bleasby, said: “We can all think of similar venues in the heart of any of our villages that don’t cause a problem.”

Mr Allen Tift said: “My only slight concern is that we are only allowed to allow a reasonable-sized extension within the countryside — this is a 100% increase.

“I hope that with expansion it doesn’t lose all that character.”

Mrs Sue Saddington thought the owners would be applying for a licence to sell alcohol.

The application was passed with the proviso that Mr Blaney and the committee chairman, Mr Keith Sheppard, devise conditions to address any problems neighbours may suffer.