A VILLAGE is to get a new cafe that its owner hopes will be at the heart of the community.

Bury Council’s planning committee has granted permission for the eatery to open at a former greengrocer’s shop, in Vernon Road, Greenmount.

Resident Patrick Maloney spoke at the meeting to raise concerns over the proposed cafe.

He said parking at Vernon Road was already “at capacity” and he also had worries about increased traffic, claiming the 20 mph limit was already routinely ignored. He also raised concerns over the safety of residents in the flats above the cafe in the event of a fire.

But applicant Claire Balesi she hoped to bring the vacant shop back into use and make it “part of the local community”

She said: “The neighbourhood shopping centre would be the ideal location. All shops provide different choices for local residents and I wanted to provide additional choice as its easily accessible, plus somewhere that people can meet up and meet new people without having to travel further afield.”

Some of the shops at the centre open until 10pm, but Ms Balesi said the cafe would close at 7pm. She said: “We want to continue to be part of the local community, not a fast-food takeaway causing a nuisance.”