PARSON DROVE: Here's the result of village's Great Take Away Battle

VICTORY in the Great Take Away Battle has gone to opponents who fought to keep it out of their village. Planning officers accepted Graham Mead had put forward suitable plans for the take away in Parson Drove but Fenland councillors rejected them. That opp

VICTORY in the Great Take Away Battle has gone to opponents who fought to keep it out of their village.

Planning officers accepted Graham Mead had put forward suitable plans for the take away in Parson Drove but Fenland councillors rejected them.

That opposition has been confirmed by a Government inspector who ruled, on appeal, that the take away would spoil the village's conservation area.

Richard High's report from the Planning Inspectorate says the take away at 3 The Bank would not only spoil the conservation area but also affect residents living nearby.

He accepted the village might find the take away useful, and he took note of a petition in favour of it which "indicates significant support" but felt these were not sufficient to outweigh the harm it would cause.

It's the latest blow to find a use for these premises. In 2003 permission was refused to turn the former hair salon into a studio flat and demolition of the property and its replacement with a one-bedroom house was refused in 2007.