A Longridge building housing businesses for yoga, fitness, and cycle repairs may face closure following a planning dispute. The property, located at Back Castle Works, Pendle Court, off Little Lane, has been used for these purposes without the necessary planning permissions.
Gary Walmsley, the building’s owner, has applied for retrospective planning permission for external alterations and to change the use of the building from storage to a space for exercise, yoga, and rehabilitation studios, as well as a bicycle repair workshop. However, local authorities have raised concerns about the application.
Planning officers at Ribble Valley Council have recommended rejecting the application due to parking and traffic safety concerns, particularly at a nearby junction. The Lancashire County Council’s highways department also fears that parking issues could exacerbate traffic hazards in the area. One local resident has formally objected, and planning officers have expressed concern about the lack of parking space and the potential for noise disruption to nearby homes.
Despite the objections, the application has been “called-in” for consideration by Ribble Valley’s planning committee, led by Independent Councillor Jim Rogerson. Supporters of the businesses have expressed their approval to the council, noting that the site provides valuable services such as fitness and mental health support and is easily accessible for local customers. A petition with 59 signatures has also been submitted in favor of the businesses.
Walmsley, who owns the site, states that he purchased the property during the Covid-19 pandemic, when it was a dilapidated former plumber’s workshop. He invested in significant renovations, including the removal of asbestos, and installed security lighting to combat anti-social behavior. He claims that neighbors welcomed the improvements, and that he was unaware that planning permission was needed for the current business activities until a recent complaint was filed by a resident.
The complaint, according to Walmsley, is linked to a dispute over parking spaces, as the bicycle repair shop’s owner uses a forecourt area that has been shared by previous tenants of the building. Following the complaint, an enforcement officer informed Walmsley that the building’s authorized use is for storage only, and that planning permission must be obtained for the new businesses.
The building currently employs two full-time and two part-time workers, with proposed hours of operation for fitness activities running from 6:15 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Saturdays, and 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Sundays. Other commercial activities, including bicycle repairs, would operate from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays.
The application is now under review by Ribble Valley’s planning committee, with a decision expected in the coming weeks.
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