A FORMER bank building on the corner of Cheap Street and Long Street in Sherborne could be converted to a restaurant and takeaway.

Dorset Council has agreed to the conversion of the Midland/HSBC building at 87 Cheap Street together with the creation of a flat on the site.

The application makes changes to a similar consent agreed in 2019 although objectors claimed the stand-alone takeaway with a separate entrance and the part demolition of the building should have been enough to reject the application.

Ward councillor Jon Andrews said in a letter to planners that he fears the takeaway could add to traffic problems in the area, a no waiting zone, although raised no objections to café or bistro use.

Sherborne town council raised similar concerns and also said they were concerned about the effect on a medieval panel, the remains of a previous building, in Long Street, which would end up next to the proposed bin store and trade waste area, possibly resulting in it being damaged.