Residents in Eastwood are fuming over a hair salon operating in a neighbor’s garden, raising concerns about noise and traffic issues
Eastwood: So, there’s this hair salon that’s been set up in a backyard, and it’s causing quite the stir among the neighbors. The owners of a house on Blatches Chase built this big outbuilding back in 2011, and now they’re running a salon from it five days a week.
Here’s the kicker: they didn’t even get planning permission for it! But since it’s been there for over ten years, they can’t be forced to take it down. Recently, they spruced it up and started using it as a salon, and now they’re trying to get permission retroactively.
They’ve got about seven clients a day, which adds up to 25 a week. But the locals are not happy. Southend council got nine complaints about it, mainly about parking issues, noise, and the fact that it just doesn’t fit in with the quiet neighborhood vibe.
Paul Collins, a local councillor, is on the case. He’s heard from a lot of residents who are really concerned about the parking and the hours the salon operates. He’s hoping the committee will listen to the community’s worries.
If they do get the green light, there will be some strict rules. They can only operate from 9 am to 6 pm, Tuesday to Saturday, and they can’t have more than two employees or three clients at a time. Sounds like a lot of restrictions, right?
A report going to the development control committee says that the salon wouldn’t really mess with the neighborhood too much, as long as they stick to the rules. But with all the fuss from the neighbors, it’s clear this is a hot topic in Eastwood.
