A NEW shop and restaurant could soon be built in Central Avenue, West Bridgford.
There has been talk of building the new restaurant behind the Halifax Bank for some time, leading to objections from traders and stallholders on the town's farmers' market.
Now, a full planning application for the site, which faces on to the town's Croquet Lawn, has been submitted to Rushcliffe Borough Council.
Karina Wells, of Totally Locally West Bridgford and a resident of Musters Road, said: "We just don't need another commercial unit in the town. There's talk of it being a Yo Sushi or a Patisserie Valerie and that's just not needed.
"We already have lovely restaurants like Escabeche. We don't need anymore.
"It will also encroach on the lovely Croquet Lawn and affect the farmer's market, which is added bad news.
"Why can't new big-chain businesses use some of the empty units in Melton Road, for example, if they must come to West Bridgford?"
Traders on West Bridgford Farmers' market claim the new development would lead to three stallholders being turfed off their pitches.
Linda Phillips, of community group the Friends of Bridgford Park, said: "Everybody I've spoken to is against it. They don't want a shop fronting on to the Croquet Lawn – it's a unique space.
"We've got empty shops in West Bridgford, we've got 15 cafés and restaurants, nine charity shops and ten banks and you can count on two hands the number of independent businesses we've got."
Central West Bridgford Community Association has written to councillors urging them not to grant access rights.
Jo Bounds is the co-owner of Tiffin Tea House, in Abbey Road. She said: "My main gripe is that it is a real shame that people like ourselves can't afford the rent on Central Avenue, which is excluding exciting, independent businesses. Instead, we are left with big national companies – it can lose its charm.
The plans will be decided at a meeting of the council's development control committee.
