Planners have no dress sense

TIGHT squeeze... owner Douglas Conn, manager Dianne Harratt, Barbara Shaw and Sue Bamford, from Charles Vermont dress shop in Shaw

A DRESS shop owner is threatening to quit town because plans to extend the business have been turned down.

Douglas Conn, who has run Charles Vermont in Market Street, Shaw, for 30 years, had his planning application for a two storey extension at the back of his shop refused.

Oldham Council said the design would result in a “discordant, overbearing and jarring feature”.

Mr Conn has five staff and needs extra space for his expanding business. He was planning to hire more staff if he got the go-ahead.

He said: “People come from as far away as Pontefract and Wrexham to my shop but we don’t have room to move, let alone work. We’ve always had a lot of stock.

“If I don’t get this extension I’m going to have to move out — probably to Bury or Ashton.

“I was really surprised the plans didn’t go through.”

Mr Conn’s agent, Steve Ingram from S Ingram and Associates in Delph, confirmed an appeal would be lodged and identical plans submitted as soon as possible.

Mr Conn is currently in discussions with council leader Howard Sykes, to ask for his support.

Mr Conn first submitted plans for an extension 15 years ago – but didn’t start work in the allocated time.