NEW premises may have been found for Richmond's main post office - possibly clearing the way for the Queen's Road building to be turned into a pub.

Wetherspoon's, the chain which hopes to carry out the conversion, told about 50 people who attended a site visit yesterday that counter services could be set to move.

Mr Rob Nicholls, the company's agent, said: "We have been assured that the current postmaster has found alternative premises in the town." The post office would not confirm the location or give further details.

Coun John Gill, chairman of the post office local advisory committee, which represents customers' interests, said there was strong concern about the possible loss of the service.

He wanted a condition that the pub conversion could not go ahead until suitable premises for a new post office were found, but planners said this was not possible, as loss of the office was not a material planning consideration.

Residents were concerned about delivery vehicles using the narrow side lane and Dr Mike Nicholls, whose home and holiday accommodation business had right of way down the lane, was worried it would be blocked.

Miss Natalie Snowball, planning officer, said 14 deliveries a week were expected, about half of them by van and the rest by larger vehicles. Some of these would have to take place from Queen's Road.

The principle of turning the building into a pub-restaurant had already been established when a previous application was approved by Richmondshire district council, she said. However, that application did not involve the post office counters part of the premises, which would have remained.

Noise nuisance could be addressed by conditions applied to the previous planning permission, which included restricted opening hours and no amplified noise. Wetherspoon's had a policy of no music in its pubs.

Mr Keith Wilson, of North Yorkshire highways authority, said he had made no formal recommendation yet but anticipated no objection to the principle of development. However, details must be ironed out before a formal response went to the planning authority, including possible deletion of a side delivery door.

"Loading can take place from Queen's Road," he said. "Although it is not always 100pc desirable, it is general practice with a lot of premises in the town centre." Conditions limiting deliveries to early morning could help alleviate congestion.

Several landlords from town centre pubs, who have already objected to the proposals, attended the site visit. Their chief concern was that Wetherspoon's might offer cheap beer which would attract heavy drinkers who would cause trouble in their pubs later in the evening.

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