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| Fortress-like and hostile? The controversial shutters |
THE owner of a Chinese takeaway may have to remove security shutters outside his premises in Scartho.
Mr Wei Jie Chen installed the shutters at the Red Sun to combat problems of ne'er-do-wells congregating and sometimes rough sleeping on the shop doorstep.
Advised that he needed planning permission from North East Lincolnshire Council, he applied retrospectively - only to have his application refused.
In his report, planning officer Jonathan Cadd states: "The requirement to secure the business is understandable, and the applicant has experienced a number of issues, re anti-social behaviour and rough sleepers at the premises.
"To combat this, the applicant followed the example of the adjoining shop and erected a roller shutter across the shop frontage but also over the entrance to the flat.
"The takeaway is a long-standing facility and is located at the very end of the parade of shops on Louth Road.
"Within the parade there are two other properties with roller shutters - one on the corner with St Giles Avenue, a newsagent, and the other the flower/ gift shop next door. These shutters were approved in 1998 and the early 2000s."
The officer continues: "Despite the issues of concern outlined by the applicant, which must be given some positive weight in the planning balance, the roller shutters erected have had a detrimental impact on the appearance and character of this building and its shopfront but also the character of the conservation area.
"The scale and design of the shutter, and its housing, creates a harsh solid feature to the building and streetscene, contrary to the attractive village centre appearance of Louth Road at this point.
"The cumulative impact of the proposal and the small number of other shutters on the parade, only emphasise the harsh alien design of such features contrary to the character of the area."
Mr Cadd's observations echo those of NELC's conservation officer, Louise Jennings, who says: "Shutters are a very undesirable solution to security in a conservation area as it is important to create an attractive and welcoming street scene.
"The shutters erected are positioned in front of the shop window, with the external roller shutter particularly prominent with its bulky shutter box and side runners.
"The attractive modest shop front with appropriate architectural features is wholly covered by the development.
"The solid shutter to the shop front creates a harsh and un welcoming appearance to the street-scene, especially as it is repeated at several premises on the parade.
"This detracts from the pleasant village shopping environment of Scartho village centre as well as creating a fortress-like appearance.
"Such shutters are liable to attract graffiti and spontaneous damage, prevent window shopping and reduce casual surveillance by the public.
"The installation of roller shutters can even exacerbate the problem of anti-social behaviour by creating such a hostile looking environment.
"The nature of a takeaway is such that it remains closed most of the day, opening only in the late afternoon/ early evening, meaning that the shutter remains in a down position further underlining the detrimental impact on the appearance of the shop front, building and character of the conservation area."
All is not lost for Mr Wei Jie Chen.
He has the right to appeal to an independent planning inspector pending which the shutters can be retained.
It may also be that NELC simply decides its not worth taking the trouble to impose enforcement action for removal.
The Grimsby News says: It is understandable if the applicant should feel aggrieved by the council's refusal to approve his application. After all, other nearby premises have been allowed similar shutters. Furthermore, planners have approved far more obtrusive security arrangements outside the libraries in both Grimsby town centre and Cleethorpes. The whole situation seems very unfair - Mr Wei Jie Chen was probably disadvantaged firstly by not being fully aware of the planning system and secondly by having no one, for example a Scartho ward councillor or an MP, to fight his corner. He has now been left vulnerable to antisocial behaviour, possibly putting himself and his business at risk.
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