PLANS for a pizza takeaway and delivery shop in Tavistock were given the thumbs down by West Devon Borough Council's planning committee at a meeting last week.

The application proposed the change of use of a unit on Westbridge Industrial Estate, currently used for storage and distribution, to be used as a pizza takeaway with delivery service.

The application was recommended for refusal on grounds it would lead to a cumulative loss of employment land have an adverse effect on neighbouring employment uses and would affect the vitality of the town centre.

In a report to the committee, planning officer Claire Boobier said: 'Where there have been permissions granted within the industrial estate for changes of use, the material planning considerations have indicated that there would not be a significant adverse affect on employment opportunities or the supply of employment land.

'As other units within the industrial estate have been permitted change of use, there has been a cumulative impact of these permissions on the supply of employment units in the area and it is considered change of use of this unit will result in a significant loss.'

The report also highlighted that no evidence had been submitted to demonstrate a need for the takeaway to be sited on an industrial estate rather than within the town centre.

Ms Boobier said: 'There are vacant units within Tavistock town centre which could accommodate it, therefore the local planning authority concludes that given the proposed A5 (pizza takeaway/delivery) is more suitable for a town centre use, adding to the viability and vitality and offer of the town centre, compared with the location of the use within the industrial estate, which would result in competition with the existing town centre uses, there is no justification for permitting and A5 use in this location.'

It was also feared that its evening and 'over the counter' trading would be out of character with the industrial estates current uses and could encourage behaviour that could be detrimental to current operators.

However, the county Highways Authority had no issues with the plan, Tavistock Town Council supported it, there were no opinions from local residents or interested parties and the Environmental Health Section proposed a condition for the detail of extraction to be agreed by the Local Planing Authority if it were to be approved.

Ward member Cllr Mandy Ewings supported the application. She said such a business could have created employment for local people and said the borough's own policies regarding employment land had been written five years ago, for a 'completely different' economic situation than the current one.

She added that the local planning authority would be regarded as 'anti business' by the public if it was to refuse the application, which was also backed by the other ward members, councillors Robert Oxborough and Ted Sherrell.

But the committee accepted the officer's recommendation and turned down the application.