Planning bids for a physio business and revamping chippy

However, a bid for a retail booth backing onto the village’s car park has raised alarm bells as the county council’s lease from the Lord Crewe Trustees prohibits commercial use.

Carole Page has applied to set up a personal training and physiotherapy business at 160 and 162 Main Street in North Sunderland, which will include alterations to the shop front, a ground-floor extension and the replacement of the first and second-floor roofs.

At Monday’s meeting, she said: “The shop has been out of use for about four years now and we hope to make considerable improvements to the appearance of the front of the building.”

She also reassured members that it was not going to be a gym where people could come and go, but a one-on-one personal training business.

Coun Geoffrey Stewart said: “The main thing really is it’s bringing the property back into use.”

Mike Armstrong, from Pinnacles, was also at the meeting to talk about his scheme for new signs with the aim of smartening up the front of the restaurant.

He said: “I have been running Pinnacles for 26 years and really the important thing is to update the building. Love it or hate it, it’s not the nicest building in the village.

“I really think a quality upgrade will last another 26 years. We are looking the poor relation in the village right now.”