Thatcham pizzeria signage approved - but not the shop

The council turned down plans for a Papa Luigi Pizzeria in the vacant Blockbuster store in Thatcham Broadway on the grounds that the takeaway would result in the loss of retail space, which would jeopardise the vitality of the town centre.
Applicant Kevin Dobson said he was amazed by the decision.
“We fully expected to get planning permission. No one goes shopping in Thatcham,” he said. “It’s a village offering local services but a lot of people do travel into Thatcham to eat now. It amazes me that they can turn down something that would have been an asset to the town.”
Read more of Mr Dobson's thoughts, the council's and local business response in tomorrow's Newbury Weekly News.