Priti calls for dance studio planning application to be approved
The Witham MP, Priti Patel, has called on Braintree District Council to approve a planning application for a dance studio in Witham. Complete Dance are looking for new premises and have applied to develop an industrial unit that has been vacant for more than five years into a dance and fitness studio. Complete Dance provide classes and activities for hundreds of young people and their application has widespread support from the local community. A previous planning application has been refused by the Council and Priti has called for the decision to be reversed and consent to be granted. Priti also criticised the Council for delays in bringing the latest planning application to the Planning Committee, to be determined, and said:
“Complete Dance are a fantastic local business keen to bring a long term vacant and empty site into use. They have major plans to provide more activities for hundreds of children and adults and it is very disappointing that the Council’s inflexible approach is blocking their plans. Having already refused their first planning application, it is frustrating that the Council have delayed getting their latest application to the Planning Committee, where elected councillors may take a different view. It is ridiculous that the Council seem content to let a local business suffer and keep a business unit vacant, when there is a clear way to fill this space with an ambitious local business.”
“The local community is supportive of Complete Dance and I will campaign with them to press the Council to approve this application.”