A closed high street bank in a beautiful village dubbed the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’ could be replaced by a fish and chip shop that also sells alcohol.
The Lloyds Bank branch in Bourton-on-the-Water’s picturesque high street was one of 54 national branches to close in 2017.
Dan Chuter, director of The Chip Shed, which has restaurants in Minchinhampton and Warwick, wants to sell alcohol from the empty Lloyd’s Bank in High Street.
Bourton-on-the-Water is home to the River Windrush, crossed by five low, arched stone bridges, as well as long-wide greens used by tourists to relax and a Grade-II listed model village.
The village often has more visitors than residents during peak times of the tourist season.
On The Chip Shed’s website, it promises to “be so much more than Fish and Chips… We aim to be open in June, so not long to wait before we bring our award winning fish and chips (and more) to Bourton-on-the-Water.”
Cotswold District Council’s licensing sub-committee will consider the application, to sell alcohol every day of the week from 9am to 10pm, next week.
But Bourton-on-the-Water’s parish council’s clerk, Sue Cretney, is concerned about antisocial behaviour stemming from alcohol on the village green.
Objecting to the application, Ms Cretney said in a letter: “If alcohol off-sales are permitted customers will be encouraged to gather outside to consume drinks purchased; the consuming of alcohol is not appropriate adjacent to a public highway/footpath, and is highly likely to lead to public disorder.
“This is particularly relevant as the business is located immediately opposite the Village Green which provides an accessible open space where customers can gather, and where there is a history of anti-social behaviour issues where alcohol has been considered to be a major contributory factor.”
District council officers believe it is not appropriate to make a recommendation on the application, a council document said.
Councillors will consider the application on May 1, from 10am.
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