New city centre chip shop to open

Hereford is to get a new fish and chip shop.

The shop, which will only do takeaways, will be at 7 Bridge Street, a grade II- listed building within the city’s central conservation area previously occupied by the Fancy Pants fancy dress shop.

It will operate between noon and 9pm, seven days a week, employing three full-time and two part-time staff.

But the permission granted by council planners said the garden at the rear of the property cannot be used by customers, so as not to disturb nearby properties.

Hereford Civic Society said it was worried that it would damage the character of number 7, and be out of keeping with nearby heritage buildings.

One neighbour also objected to the potential noise and “obnoxious smells which are inherent with a fish and chip shop”.

However neither Historic England nor the council’s historic building officer, nor its environmental health officers, raised objections.

The proposed outlet “will add vitality to this part of the street and wider conservation area”, the delegated planning officer concluded. Listed building consent was granted separately.