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17
Jul 2021
Councillor left 'angry' and 'astounded' at Starbucks drive-thru decision
A Harrogate councillor who fought against a plan for a Starbucks drive-thru on Wetherby Road says she has been left “angry” and “astounded” after it was approved.
The government gave the go-ahead for the development on the former 1st Dental Surgery site after an appeal hearing was held in June.
Euro Garages, the developer behind the plan, took Harrogate Borough Council to appeal. But the council later withdrew its objection and residents were left to oppose the application by themselves.
Cllr Pat Marsh, who represents the area of the site, led residents in the fight against the proposal.
She said she had been left angry at the decision and warned that residents lives would be affected as a result.
Read more:
- Government approves controversial Wetherby Road Starbucks
- Harrogate councillors cave in over Starbucks drive-thru plans
Cllr Marsh added that the development would have an adverse impact on the entire Harrogate area, not just on Wetherby Road.
She said:
Despite multiple residents speaking against the development, planning inspector Helen Hockenhull said she was not persuaded that the site would cause “significant harm”
She said in a decision notice published yesterday:
Ms Hockenhull also awarded costs for the proceedings of the appeal against the borough council.
The decision to approve the development comes after almost a decade of planning applications from Euro Garages.
The approval means the former dental surgery will be demolished to make way for a drive-thru coffee shop with 19 car parking spaces. This would then be handed over to Starbucks to operate.
A spokesperson for Euro Garages said:
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