Plans to change a hairdressing salon into a takeaway in Northwich have been knocked back amid fears over traffic and parking.

Planning officers at Cheshire West and Chester Council rejected an application for the site, next to neighbouring salon Hair-Port, on Winnington Lane.

The original proposal was for the change of use for the ground floor, while keeping the first floor for residential use. But concerns had been raised about spikes in traffic.

In a report compiled by planning officers, Northwich Town Council said it had ‘noted residents’ comments regarding parking issues and residents’ driveways being blocked and a potential danger as roads are very congested’.

One comment submitted online, said: “Parking is non-existent for collecting takeaways here. They are parking on the double yellow lines towards the traffic lights and blocking driveways. Plus there are exposed bin bags of discarded food."

Another said: "I would like to object to it for the principal reason of the area already being over-saturated with vans and car parking particularly at evenings and weekends when the business is likely to be at its busiest."

It went on: "During evenings and weekends the area and the streets around are already overcrowded with overnight parking which includes large vans and some pavement parking. Any additional parking by staff will necessitate the equivalent permanent residents having to park even further away."

Planning officers rejected the plans, stating there were other suitable sites elsewhere.

It said: “Northwich Town Centre is currently experiencing a large percentage of vacancies. The information submitted with the application does not adequately demonstrate that there are no suitable and available sites within Northwich town centre and the nearby local retail centre that could accommodate the proposal."

They also cited increased traffic, demand for parking for rejecting the scheme, and added that the required information of an odour assessment and noise assessment had also not been submitted.