"It is a shame, but not a disaster.
It was always a long shot to hope that a launderette would be protected by policies meant to protect A1, even when there is a serious shortage in the core shopping area. Unfortunately the council planning department (who wanted to approve the conversion before it went to planning committee) appears to have put up very little evidence to indicate how a launderette (or A1 retail unit) would add more vitality and footfall to the core shopping area.

Peddar will certainly improve the frontage of this unit and I hope that their current shop is put to good use as an A1 unit. Great site for a greengrocer, deli, or fishmonger - almost next door to The Butchery and opposite Sainsburys. So good luck to Peddar in this prime site, and to their replacement in their current site. "

Well said, one has to be pragmatic in these situations and I would much rather have Pedder in there than an empty unit!