Penny Lane tram stop looks set to become a mecca for Beatles fans

Sep 19 2007 by Larry Neild, Liverpool Daily Post

Penny Lane tram stop looks set to become a mecca for Beatles fans

THE famous tram stop immortalised in the Beatles hit Penny Lane was yesterday given permission to expand.

The city council’s planning committee went against the advice of their own planners and gave the owner of Sgt Pepper’s Bistro permission to build an extension on the roof of the single-storey building.

Councillors were divided on the scheme and voted 4-4, with chairman Cllr David Irving using his casting vote to approve the plan.

Planning officers said a rooftop extension on the building would look out of place and spoil the views of historic St Barnabas Parish Church.

But Cllr Irving said the bistro, closed for more than two years, could remain empty and an eyesore for years to come without an extension.

It was third time lucky for owner Ray Maatook, who has had two previous bids to expand the tram stop rejected.

The committee visited the Penny Lane roundabout in advance of their meeting to see for themselves the impact of the proposed scheme.

The plan now needs to be presented at a future meeting before the approval is fully sanctioned.

Councillors said they want to see improved plans at the meeting to show what the extension will look like.