A NEW branch of Dominos is set to come to Bude – but not everyone’s happy.

MSG (Cornwall) Ltd has applied to Cornwall Council’s planning department for permission to undertake a change of use of a building from vacant retail floorspace to a hot food takeaway, in addition to the installation of a new shopfront, an extraction unit and ventilation equipment.

The company is an operator of the Dominos franchise in Cornwall.

The proposed new takeaway, with limited seating, would be located in the unused part of the Co-op shop on Burn View, Bude, which became disused after a refit nearly seven years ago.

The site was described by the applicants as: “The application site comprises part of the vacant floorspace adjacent to an existing Co-op convenience store (Class E) on the southern side of Burn View, Bude. The site is within a part-one, part-two storey building. The ground floor of the building was formerly entirely occupied by Co-op, however following a refit in late-2017, the size of the store has been reduced and the western end of the unit has remained vacant. Therefore, it lawfully remains in Class E use.”

The application also promises that it will create ‘a number of employment opportunities of both a full-time and part-time nature, with the company also promising that ‘the majority of employees will be sourced locally’. It is proposed that the takeaway would open between 11am and 11pm daily.

No objection was issued by Bude-Stratton Town Council.

However, more than 30 objections have been raised by residents of Bude, the vast majority of which are objecting to what they see as a ‘national chain’ coming to the town — something they perceive as a threat to ‘local, independent businesses’, as well as concerns about the impact of late-night noise or littering to the nearby area.

One of those objectors, Mrs Laura Spry, wrote: “I strongly object this as there are plenty of takeaway businesses in Bude who already sell pizza that need our support. It will cause further issues with litter and residents around the area will be affected by late night customers making noise.

“I feel Bude needs more small independent business to keep our high street alive.

“Bude has always been a community town and is becoming more built up and commercialised, not the right setting for Bude. Please let us keep our community for as long as people.

“I know times have changed and Bude needs to move on, but we don't need chains we need to keep our individuality to survive.”

The plans can be viewed on the Cornwall Council planning portal website, with the documents and comments available under reference PA24/01125.