A new takeaway outlet will be able to open up in Bridgwater town centre, despite concerns about a lack of parking nearby.

Rajiv and Mamta Sachdev have applied to convert the former CBD Journey store at 75 Eastover into a retail and takeaway outlet.

The Coventry-based couple believe the new outlet could create at least two full-time jobs – but they have not yet indicated what kind of food would be sold there.

Sedgemoor District Council has now given the green light to these proposals – despite concerns that customers would not be able to park nearby.

The outlet lies at the junction of Eastover and the A38 Monmouth Street, between the Timebomb Tattoo parlour and Bridgwater Methodist Church.

Together with its neighbouring shops, it forms part of the ‘Celebration Mile’ between the Northgate Docks and Bridgwater railway station, which the council is enhancing to the tune of £9M as part of the Bridgwater town deal.

A spokesman for James Venton Planning & Building Design (representing the Sachdev family) said: “The nearest listed building to the site is the pub next door but one [The Cobblestones], but as there are no material changes proposed to the existing building, we do not believe any detriment will be caused to either the nearby listed building or indeed the wider conservation area.

“The proposed takeaway end use, is a use type that is established in the immediate surrounding area.

“The building in question has had a number of short-term retail uses in recent times.

“The owner of the building is looking to expand upon the potential end uses to hopefully attract a longer-term tenant to what is quite a prominently located building.”

The plans were discussed by the council’s development committee when it met at The Canalside in Bridgwater on Tuesday afternoon (November 15).

Councillor Tony Grimes said he welcomed bringing the building back into use, but worried about how it would affect efforts to improve the rest of Eastover.

He said: “I don’t have any issues with this application – but I’m not too happy about the bins being stored about by those railings. They’re spending a lot of money in that part of Bridgwater trying to regenerate it.”

Under the agreed plans for the Eastover stretch of the Celebration Mile (which were approved by the same committee in late-September), Eastover will become a one-way street, with traffic only being allowed to move westbound from the A38 Broadway to the Town Bridge junction and over the River Parrett.

Similar changes will be implemented on East Quay (where cars will be able to move northbound only, towards the A39 The Drove), Salmon Parade (southbound only, past the former community hospital) and Town Bridge (westbound only, towards the town centre).

The additional space created will be used to create new cycle lines and widening the existing pavements, providing more of an incentive for people to walk and cycle safety into the town centre.

While a number of parking spaces will be removed to “improve the experience for pedestrians and allow greater space outside retail units for pedestrians”, disabled spaces and loading bays will be retained on Eastover.

Councillor Alex Glassford – who represents the neighbouring Bridgwater Fairfax ward – said: “There’s no place to park around there. Half of the nearest car park has disappeared as a result of the Mercure Hotel – it’s just chaos there.”

Despite Mr. Glassford’s reservations, the committee voted to approve the plans by a margin of eight votes to one.

Work to deliver the three stages of the Celebration Mile is expected to begin early in the new year.