Domino’s Pizza outlet planned near Somerset school

The popular pizza brand already has a number of branches in Somerset – including one in Bridgwater, one in Burnham-on-Sea and two each in Taunton and Weston-super-Mare (with a new unit to shortly follow in Wellington).

The company has applied to open its latest Somerset outlet at Saxon Place off the A371 Station Road in Cheddar – yards from the entrance to Kings Academy (formerly Kings of Wessex Academy).

A final decision on the plans will be taken by Somerset Council’s planning committee north when it meets in Bridgwater on Tuesday afternoon (October 14).

The site comprises units 5 and 6 of Saxon Place (near the village’s Tesco Express store), which were previously occupied by Factory Bargains before its relocation to elsewhere within the same employment area.

The front of unit 5 will serve as the customer entrance, with the food being prepared and cooked on the ground floor while the first floor of the two units will be used for office space.

The business will be open from 11am to 11pm daily, creating ten full-time and 15 part-time jobs for local residents.

A spokesperson for Pegasus Group (representing the applicant) said: “The wider area is commercial in nature, providing a variety of main town centre uses including a Tesco Express retail store, gym and Royal Mail sorting office.

“The proposals will benefit the vitality of the centre of Cheddar, and the proposed works to the building will have a neutral impact on the appearance and significance of the village’s conservation area and all surrounding heritage assets.

“The premises has access to suitable levels of parking and is located within a highly sustainable and accessible location, and therefore will not detract from highway safety.”

Kings Academy headteacher Joanne Cowper has strongly criticised the plans, arguing they could put the health of pupils at risk and lead to lower academic attainment.

She said: “Easy access to fast food near schools undermines students’ dietary choices and academic potential.

“The long-term health and well-being of Cheddar’s children is at real risk, especially with well-documented links between fast food proximity and increased obesity rates.

“The proposed development undermines Somerset Council’s duty to protect public health and uphold national planning guidance discouraging fast food outlets near schools, as documented in the Obesity Health Alliance.”

The council’s planning committee north (which handles major applications within the former Sedgemoor area) will meet in Bridgwater to decide the fate of these plans on Tuesday (October 14) from 2pm.

The meeting will be live-streamed via Microsoft Teams for those unable to attend the meeting in person.