Appeal launched over refusal of gym plans for Wrexham tyre depot

An appeal has been launched after plans to turn a tyre depot in Wrexham into a gym were thrown out.

An application was submitted in November last year to convert a unit on Wrexham Industrial Estate into a specialist fitness studio for personal training.

Permission was later refused by Wrexham Council amid concerns over a lack of parking spaces outside the property on Ash Road North and potential road safety issues.

Simon Morait, who is behind the proposals, has now appealed to the Planning Inspectorate in a bid to have the decision overturned.

It follows an agent acting on his behalf stating that only 12 customers would be able to access the gym at any one time, along with two staff members.

In an appeal statement, Mark Bowyer Jones said: “It has been demonstrated that in the unlikely event that all 14 clients/staff turn up in separate vehicles there is at all times ample parking provided within the site between dedicated and communal parking areas.

“The highway officer stated that ‘the proposed fitness studio could potentially operate a limited service which may well be catered for by the allocated spaces plus communal spaces’

“Despite accepting that there would be enough parking within the site for the proposed use, the highway officer reverted to using local planning guidance note 16 as a basis for his negative comments.

“It is suggested that the current application at Ash Road North could be fully controlled by appropriate conditions limiting the number of people on site at any one time to 14 and making it a personal permission.”

He added: “Each of the concerns raised by the planning officer have been addressed.

“It has been demonstrated that the proposed change of use of the building would not result in a shortfall in parking leading to congestion or highway safety problems.”

A decision will be made on the appeal at a later date by an inspector appointed by the Welsh Government.

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter