DECISION DAY FOR PLANS TO TURN RED LION PUB AT BROUGHTON INTO CONVENIENCE STORE

A decision is about to be made on plans to convert the Red Lion pub at Broughton into a convenience store.
North Lincolnshire Council's Planning Committee is scheduled to rule on the application at its next meeting, to be held on Wednesday, December 15.
Listed on the agenda "for determination by the committee" is an application for change of use from public house to convenience store, and erect a front extension, at the Red Lion, 45 High Street, Broughton.
This application, which has been awaiting a decision for some months, is considered by the council to be of "significant public
interest."
That is why it has been referred to the planning committee, made up of elected representatives from across the district, rather than being delegated to planning officers to decide.
Many comments were submitted to the planning authority during the mandatory consultation period.
The scheme, if accepted, will create 12 new jobs.
A report prepared by council staff ahead of the Planning Committee meeting says that a petition containing 265 signatures "against the proposal" and a further 152 letters of objection have been received.
This report, which is recommending that the committee grants permission (subject to various conditions), concludes: "The change of use of the public house to a convenience store is considered acceptable in principle due to the availability of an alternative public house in close proximity. The proposal is well designed and would not harm the character of the area, nor heritage assets. There would be no harm to residential amenity or highway safety."
Options open to the committee are to accept the officer's recommendation and grant permission, refuse the application or defer the matter to allow councillors to undertake a site visit before making their ruling at a future meeting.
The Planning Committee is chaired by Coun Nigel Sherwood (Brigg & Wolds Ward).
It will be meeting in Church Square House, High Street, Scunthorpe, on December 15, from 2pm.
This session is open to interested members of the public.
In addition to the Red Lion, Broughton has the Thatch Inn and the licensed Broughton Working Men's Club on the High Street which are open for business. The Double Tree By Hilton Hotel (formerly Forest Pines) and Arties Mill, Castlethorpe, are also within Broughton parish.
Planning permission was recently granted to turn the long-closed Dog & Rat pub, on Broughton High Street, into a domestic residence.