Neighbours are opposing double yellow lines being painted along their street that could help a new Wetherspoons pub to open.

Cambridgeshire County Council is considering introducing a no waiting at any time restriction along St Mary’s Street in Ely.

Currently there is a 30 minute waiting period allowed outside the building, Monday to Saturday, between 8am and 6pm.

A county council report said the restriction is being considered to address one of the issues raised with converting 24 St Mary’s Street into a Wetherspoons pub.

A planning application from the pub chain to open in the building was refused by East Cambridgeshire District Council in 2021.

One of the reasons given at the time was that the plans failed to provide “adequate facilities for the unloading and loading of vehicles in the servicing of the proposed use”.

The authority said this could lead to on street parking and obstruction of the highway, which could cause “significant and demonstrable harm to road users”.

A report published by the council council said one option that had been put forward to address the issue to allow space for deliveries, was to amend the current parking restrictions outside the building, from the 30 minute period, to no waiting at any time.

It said: “This would mean that length of road would be available for short duration parking purposes, such as for picking-up/setting down passengers and for loading/unloading.

“A change to the parking restriction is outside of the scope of the planning process and requires an amendment to the traffic regulation order, which the county council is now processing at the request of the developer.”

While the previous application is referenced in the county council report, currently no new planning application has been submitted to turn the building into a pub.

The City of Ely Council has objected to the proposals arguing the decision would “put an even greater strain” on the city’s ability to “provide sufficient spaces” for people.

The dental practice next door to 24 St Mary’s Street has also objected to the introduction of parking restrictions.

They said some of its patients who are elderly, infirm, had children, or were wheelchair users, needed to be able to access the building easily, by being dropped off and waited for outside.

They said the existing parking is in “regular use on a daily basis”.

Objections have also been raised by people living along St Mary’s Street. One person said: “The parking bay outside no.24 is used for parking by people using the shops in St Mary’s Street. For the past 30 years this has been no problem.

“Please can you explain why the owners require double yellow lines on the highway outside their property as they already have a large amount of parking on tarmac within the boundary of no.24.

“Double yellow lines will also remove an amenity for local people and will just become a convenience for one property owner.”

The proposed restrictions are due to be considered by the county council on August 9 with a decision expected to be published some time after that.