A TAXI boss has been given the go-ahead to relocate his office from a town centre to his home.
Gareth Mayers intends closing the office of Fab Kabs on Clarence Road, Pontypool and operating from a small office at his home, Ty Coed, in Penygarn instead.
Torfaen Borough Council has approved a certificate of lawful development which confirms the business can operate from the residential address after Mr Mayers supplied information about the intended use.
He confirmed no customers will attend at the office which will only be used for hosting the phone lines, bookkeeping and other admin task such as printing.
Two taxis, which are also Mr Mayers’ private vehicles, are already kept on a private courtyard at the house, which has no public access, and a private drive shared with a neighbour.
Mr Mayers said the change is intended to cut costs and due to personal circumstances and told the council: “Our office on the Clarence is not open to the public and there is no parking.
“By running the office from Ty Coed rather than at the separate address at the Clarence the only difference to the business will be a considerable saving in monthly costings.”
He added: “There will be no change whatsoever in the volume of cars to and from the property. This is a cost saving measure that will benefit the company greatly and allow us to continue working at the high standard which I feel our customers have grown to appreciate.”
A driver who works for the company normally only visits the office once a week.
Planning officer Caroline Pulley said change of use planning permission wasn’t required as there is no “material change” to how the property and land is being used and there is no expectation it would “give rise to a disproportionately high level of vehicle movements over and above what would be expected for a residential property of this scale”.