A THAI massage shop proposed on a shopping parade has received ‘strong’ opposition from an authority owing to its ‘nature’ and the ‘amount of time’ people will spend using it.

Denham Parish Council has set itself against a new Thai massage and wellbeing clinic cropping up on Station Parade, in Denham Green, and it is backed by Buckinghamshire councillor Guy Hollis who fears parking issues.

The applicant, Mrs Sukanya Ng, is seeking conditional permission to change the use of the premises from a hardware shop to a ‘by appointment only’ business.

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As part of her application, she has requested permission for “interchangeable use” allowing it to revert back if demand is “insufficient”.

The current business has been there since before March 2013.

Mrs Ng runs a “successful” chain of massage and wellbeing clinics throughout London and South Buckinghamshire called Nuad Thai, according to council documents.

Bucks Free Press:

Under her proposal, Mrs Ng can install a reception area and six treatment rooms (one with a shower).

There may also be a shower, toilet, pantry and break room for staff.

The new shop would require two full-time and four part-time employees, according to the report.

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Conservative Cllr Hollis called in the application for scrutiny, fearing it will ‘negatively impact’ other businesses in the parade and local parking.

Denham Parish Council also expressed its concerns about the proposal: “The Parish Council strongly objects,” it writes.

“The change of use to hospitality as opposed to retail in that area is a major concern.

“There are already issues with parking in that area and given the nature of this proposed business the ‘stay time’ will be longer than passing trade using the retail businesses whom the local community and those passing through the area greatly values.”

Other complaints against the business include ‘attracting people outside the locality’ and not being ‘Covid-19 compliant’.

However, the report states “a Thai massage clinic would present the opportunity to attract people to the parade that may otherwise not use it”.

The busiest business hours are “likely” to be the late afternoon and early evening “when many of the other units…will be at their quietest or closed”, according to Mrs Ng.

Main operating hours are between 9am-9pm, Monday to Friday, with similar hours permitted on weekends and bank holidays.

Two other recent applications to transform the rearmost of the premises and a detached garage into residential use cannot proceed “as they would share the same space as the Thai massage clinic”.

The matter is due for debate during a South Buckinghamshire Area Planning Committee, on October 27.

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