PLANS to re-paint a shop front are likely to be approved despite fierce opposition from residents, the Petersfield Society and Petersfield Town Council.

At the moment the outside of Crew clothing shop in The Square is beige, but as part of a re-brand the national chain wants to re-paint the fascia, woodwork and door.

One of the colours suggested by Crew is a very dark blue, in the submitted plans it appears to be black.

Sussex Road resident Charles Strick said in his objections that the town centre was losing it’s charm due to pressure from national high street chains.

He said: “Rejection of this would be a step in the right direction and we should not be bullied by threats of appeals from major high street chains.”

The Petersfield Society is also opposed to the work, saying it didn’t met policies set out in the Petersfield Neighbourhood Plan; a guideline document voted for residents and created expressly for planners benefit.

The society was instrumental in completing the neighbourhood plan, and spokesman Graham Brown said: “We object most strongly to this application, it fails to enhance or maintain the character of this Grade II listed building, the Square and the Conservation Area.

“We submit that the application proposals are entirely contrary the Petersfield Neighbourhood Plan Policies for the Built Environment. It should therefore be withdrawn or refused.”

And Petersfield Town Council has also registered their opposition, saying the application does not conform to guidelines for a building in a conservation area, and is contrary to the Petersfield Neighbourhood Plan.

But despite opposition, the idea is being recommended for approval by East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) planner Bernie Beckett, working on behalf of South Downs National Park Authority.

In report for the decision making planning committee meeting in the Penns Place council offices at 6pm on Thursday, February 2, he said that all the issues had been satisfactorily addressed.

Mr Beckett said the town council didn’t detail why the Crew proposal was contrary to the plan; clarification on the council’s view wasn’t asked for.

The meeting is open to the public, and Mr Becketts report and associated documents can be viewed in the meeting link of the EGHDC website, www.easthants.gov.uk

The Crew plans can be viewed on the South Downs planning search website using reference SDNP/16/05619/ADV.