Planning application for new beauty salon and training centre in Hartlepool approved despite concerns over parking

Proposals were submitted to Hartlepool Borough Council earlier this year to reopen the former St Mark’s Church in Clavering Road as a salon and training centre.

The plans, submitted by April Wood, stated it would focus on make-up, hair and beauty and would create five full-time and four part-time jobs.

Concerns were raised from residents along with councillors over parking worries near the site, and called for more double yellow lines to be put in place round the side of the building as soon as possible.

However councillors on the planning committee ultimately voted to approve the plans, adding they wanted to support the new business in the area.

Objectors stressed they were not against the plans for the business to open, but wanted parking restrictions in place to prevent residents nearby being blocked in and emergency service access being restricted.

However council traffic and transport officers said they were ‘not aware’ of any parking issues, but added the issue will be monitored and a report will go before Neighbourhood Services Committee in the coming months.

Coun Marjorie James said she disagreed with the officer ruling not to have yellow lines along the southern side of the junction leading up to access for a set of bungalows.

She said: “If we do not, we will end up with double side of the road parking, which means the people who live in the development behind will have no access in or out and emergency services will find it difficult to service that area.”

Although councillors unanimously voted in favour of the plans, Coun Stephen Akers-Belcher said they had failed to ease the concerns of residents.

He said: “I do feel my hands are tied, I do wish the business well, I think it would have been wrong to vote against the business.

“There has been a failure to respond quickly to these residents, and I will be monitoring this very closely. I don’t think we’ve managed to satisfy the concerns of the residents today.”

Council officers estimated any double yellow lines and parking regulations would cost £2,250 and a report will go to a future council meeting looking at putting some in place.

Applicant Ms Wood told the committee there are 44 spaces around the site for parking and the move brings a derelict site back into use.

She said: “We work on the basis someone comes in and has an appointment and leaves, then another person comes in.

“I understand there has been car parking parking problems in the development of the site and I would like to apologise to the residents of the area, things were a little bit crazy, but that is not the case now.

“When we acquired the shop it was a derelict church and it had been vandalised, we spent a lot of time and money replacing the roof, which had been vandalised by young children, and secured the building.”