A historic engine shed near a heritage railway line has been given the green light to operate as a railway-themed restaurant. The former railway goods shed on Rowlands Road, Summerseat, next to the Bury to Rawtenstall East Lancashire railway, was granted a licence to sell alcohol by Bury Council.
The Grade II-listed building, constructed in 1847 shortly after the railway line opened, houses a rare and operational hand-cranked crane. Mala Cuisine Ltd, a Holcombe-based company that runs several local eateries, received planning permission to convert the building into a restaurant in October last year.
The alcohol licence application sought approval to serve drinks from noon until 11.30pm from Sunday to Thursday, and from noon until 1.30am on Fridays and Saturdays. A written objection to the plans was reviewed by the licensing panel on April 24.
One objector expressed concerns about increased traffic in an area already plagued by high volumes and reckless drivers. They said: "The amount of traffic it will cause in the local area that already suffers with high levels of traffic plus anti-social drivers speeding through Summerseat at all times of the day and night.
"Where The Engine Shed is located the road is also very narrow and not suited to high levels of traffic and waiting taxis on a very narrow road that also has a blind bend on the bridge. "I'm also concerned with potential for increased noise levels, loud music, and disturbances to residents in the surrounding area."
The approved plans include preserving the internal crane and a mezzanine level. The restaurant's car park is planned to be situated to the south and west of the building.
A planning statement backing the plans stated: "The current applicant could envisage a high quality restaurant, lifting the image from industrial to being a prestige development, suitable to employ a reasonably high number of employees."
It further added: "Themed with railway paraphernalia, links with the railway would be forged, encouraging train passengers to break their journey at Summerseat railway station to enjoy a meal in the engine shed. Advertisements within East Lancs Railway literature could encourage passengers by the use of discount vouchers for customers using the railway as transport to the restaurant."
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