NEW plans have been submitted to build a replacement canopy over one of Stockton Heath's most popular restaurants.

This comes after Warrington Borough Council chiefs ruled the existing one, constructed hastily during the pandemic, breaches planning laws.

A La Turka, based in the Victoria Buildings, is a popular Turkish and Mediterranean restaurant.

During the pandemic, rules on eating indoors saw many establishments build outdoor areas. The then bosses at A La Turka did so by constructing the existing canopy but without receiving planning permission, documents show.

Now the new owners of the restaurant have applied for a new permanent structure. The council says the existing one will have to be removed.

Planning documents submitted state: "The past owners of A La Turka had to think fast during the pandemic and quickly constructed the current inappropriate canopy structure to help keep their business afloat.

"There was not the time to submit a planning application for the proposals to be fully assessed. "It is quite evident the current structure is inappropriate."

The plans state that restaurants and bars without outdoor areas in Stockton Heath struggle to survive and keeping one, which is very popular with diners, is crucial.

The new scheme includes designs used in other similar areas with Conservation Areas such as Lytham.

The application states that the scheme should be approved as it takes care to address some of the previous issues flagged up by the council in turning down similar schemes at other Stockton Heath venues.

It added: "The retention of a protected covered space will mean this valuable additional dining and drinking space is not lost.

"This valuable outdoor space provides a public benefit to the local community.

"The proposals presented as part of this submission look to bring forward a replacement traditional black cast iron veranda structure which we feel can still sit comfortably against the existing building which other schemes in the past have not been able to do."

You can see the application in full at warrington.gov.uk and using search term 2024/00230/FUL