A Men’s Shed has been granted retrospective planning permission to remain at a garden centre.
The venue has been operating from part of Silverwood Garden Centre in St James Road, Long Sutton, since 2017, but had never been granted planning permission to use a disused part of the site.
The application went before the district council’s planning committee last Wednesday because the multi-use centre is owned by Cllr Jack Tyrrell (Conservative – Long Sutton), who also sits on the committee.
Long Sutton Mens Shed members when they received a grant PHOTO: STOCK
The application covers two buildings to the side of the remaining garden centre, diner and retail building.
Resident David Wilson called for a fresh application to be lodged, which covers the shops, businesses and dwellings on the site.
He said: “I respectfully request that this application be refused or deferred until an application comes forward which covers the whole of the enterprise, not just the Men’s Shed and the former Youth Shed.”
Long Sutton Men’s Shed members PHOTO: STOCK
The application was supported by Cllr Thomas Sneath (Reform UK – Moulton, Weston and Cowbit).
He said: “This is for people. I can understand why we’ve got people objecting to retrospective applications, but maybe the Men’s Shed is a victim of its own success.
“It’s grown, and people look forward to going there. I understand that now it needs the proper classification and the report now puts that in place.”
Coun Thomas Sneath
Cllr Andrew Tennant (Independent – Long Sutton) said that additional conditions which restrict the Men’s Shed from being used for community activities and events would address these concerns.
He said: ” I haven’t got an issue with the Men’s Shed being here, but I do agree with the speaker.
“We do need to just be a little bit careful about what’s coming in the future. We need to put restrictions on these areas to say ‘yes we approve for community use but the fact that you’ve got new planning permission on them doesn’t mean you can turn round and use them for retail areas.’”
Coun Andrew Tennant
The volunteer-run Men’s Shed offers members the chance to socialise while learning a number of skills, including woodwork, engineering, IT and first aid.
It’s open to men over the age of 18 and has approximately 100 members.
The Youth Shed taught young people aged 11-15 carpentry, plumbing, mechanics and electrics. It temporarily closed in September last year after an inspection deemed the premises to be unsafe.
The planning application has been approved, subject to an additional condition which means it can must be used for community events and activities and not for other purposes.
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