'Selfish' Ryde Restaurant Expansion Plans Given The Go Ahead

Plans to expand an Isle of Wight restaurant with an outside seating area have been given the go ahead despite being labelled ‘selfish’ by a neighbouring pharmacy.

County Hall accepted Mr H. Afsarian of Binstead Management’s application to give Fumo33 on Ryde’s Union Street an outside seating area.

The proposal has attracted controversy with Russell Canterbury of the next-door Gibbs and Gurnell pharmacy objecting along with the Ryde Society and six members of the public.

Ryde Town Council has raised no objection.

A Planning Statement submitted with the application said the bid will be ‘beneficial’ for Union Street’s environment and offer further facilities for Ryde’s ‘main shopping and holiday area’, being attractive to both ‘Islanders and tourists alike’.

Mr Canterbury said previously:

“We have come across some news that Fumo is looking to encroach onto the current parking lot down Union Street right outside our shop.

“This would not benefit the public, already our elderly patients struggle to obtain medications when coming to the shop.”

The applicant’s Design and Access Statement said:

“The location of the seating area is sited outside Fumo restaurant adjacent to the pedestrian footpath of Union Street for the benefit of the restaurant customers.

“To enable the restaurant to accommodate greater seating capacity the design mirrors the existing concept along Union Street and the recently approved design outside the Festival Diner Bar at 61a.”

Deciding on application 25/01141/FUL, planners said:

“Officers consider that outdoor seating areas can add to the health and vibrancy of town centres, and it is noted that these have been popular and successful in other areas, such as St Thomas’s Square in Newport.

“Seating areas can enhance the appearance of town centres while also encourage people to remain in town centres for longer, and to also visit other outlets when within the town.”

They attached five conditions to the approval for the purposes of legal and planning policy compliance, highway safety and protecting the character and appearance of the area.