A PLANNING application to change a residential property into a dental practice in Ellesmere has been met with some opposition from residents of a nearby street.

A petition objecting to the proposed plans for 4 Willow Street, has been started by residents of nearby Willow Crescent who believe that the change of use to a commercial property would have a detrimental effect to the area due to ‘parking problems’.

The residents believe that the street would be an obvious choice for patients visiting the practice to park, claiming that it will be located no more than 30 yards away from the ‘quiet, narrow cul-de-sac’.

And the petition, which at present has 10 signatures, also states that ‘there are several young children who live in Willow Crescent whose safety must be considered’.

However, the application made by Satish Chappati of the Amalgam Removal Centre based in Hampshire, has been backed by the current owners of the property, which went on the market in March of this year.

A letter sent to Shirehall from Mark and Jill Rushworth expressed their support of the change of their premises from residential to commercial.

The letter reads: “We are writing to support the recent application for change of use of our premises.

“We comfirm that the property came to the market on March 15, 2019 and to date we have had 14 viewings. The outcome being that we have had no offers.

“We believe that the traffic flow of people through the practice will not effect our neighbours in any way.

“We have been advised that the gardens will be maintained and the exterior of the property will not change in any way.”

Planning officer for Shropshire Council, Mark Perry had no objections to the proposed change of use, ‘from a historic environment perspective’, but stated that as the building was Grade II listed that special regard should be taken to preserve the ‘features of special architectural and historic interest which it possesses’.

“It would appear from the information submitted that there are to be no alterations to the building to facilitate this change of use.”

The proposal is due to be discussed by town councillors on Monday.