By John Baron
A former car showroom in Wortley will be turned into a grocery store – despite concerns it would add to road safety problems.
Councillors on the south and west plans panel approved plans to convert the site on Oldfield Lane.
Leeds City Council received 12 letters of objection after a planning application was submitted for a change of use of the site off the Five Lanes End junction.
One objector said: “The proposed use will exacerbate the existing highway safety issues within this location.”
Cllr Adrian McCluskey (Lab, Farnley & Wortley) told the south and west plans panel that Five Lane Ends was one of the ‘most feared junctions in the whole of Leeds’.
“The plans effectively turn Five Lane Ends into Six Lane Ends,” Cllr McCluskey added, saying there had been a number of accidents at the junction, often as a result of driver error and speed, which had seen cars mounting pedestrian footpaths.
He pointed to one incident where a car had been driven into the front of a local fish and chip takeaway. “We are potentially adding another distraction for drivers,” he warned.
Cllr McCluskey also raised concerns over parking and its impact on a notorious junction which people in Wortley “really really fear”.
The council received 21 objections from people living nearby, mainly on the grounds of public nuisance.
Cllr Andy Parnham (Lab, Armley) lives 50 yards away from the junction opposed the application. He said “It’s just not worth the risk because of all the points Cllr McCluskey raised. There is a school nearby and no safe crossing points. Seriously, it’s a no-brainer.”
Cllr Sam Firth (Cons, Harewood) said it would be difficult to turn the application down on planning grounds. Cllr Penny Stables (Green, Wetherby) added: “This is clearly a dangerous roundabout, it must be terrible to travel over regularly. But given that highways has said there will be no increase in traffic as a result of this, I can’t see how we can turn it down.”
Cllr Andy Rontree (Lab, Kirkstall) said it was a ‘really bad and problematic junction’ but highways’ conclusions are that allowing this would not make it demonstrably worse’.
Planning permission would be subject to opening hours being restricted to 8am-10pm.
The plans were approved, subject to conditions.
In June last year an application to sell alcohol from the new shop was granted.
Pretty sure a shop next to this place had to close down when Asda opened nearby.
Used to use the bus stop next to this junction before learning to drive. It was quite entertaining watching how many people have zero idea how to navigate this roundabout. Plenty drive over the painted roundabout instead of just driving around it so near misses and collisons are avoided.
Utterly crazy planning consent. We don’t need another store in the area. And selfish fools in their cars will park without due care and cause accidents. Madness
Don’t use it, already an asda 300 yards away plus off licence on Dixon Lane. More accidents waiting to happen, the mini roundabout needs stop signs and monitoring to show the near misses every day.