Mick Jagger will be feeling a sense of satisfaction after an alfresco eaterie, popular with Richmond’s rich and famous, safely secured its future.

After nearly four years of wranglings with disgruntled residents and councillors, Petersham Nurseries was yesterday told by Richmond’s planning committee it could continue running as a garden centre and restaurant - a “no” would have spelt doom for the business.

The nurseries’ saga began in 2006 when Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside ward councillors asked Richmond Council to investigate residents' concerns that bosses were illegally running its cafe - sparking fears that the nursery may be forced to close.

But after years of objections about the number of cars descending on the site to visit the eaterie, and only securing temporary planning consent from the council in 2007 to operate as a mixed use business, the nursery has succeeded in proving its green travel plan - encouraging visitors to use more eco-friendly forms of transport - has been working over the past year and a half.

Petersham Nurseries general manager, Wendy Fogarty, said: “We are all delighted with the council’s decision and the fact that the vote was unanimous.

“The unique environment in which we are located has always inspired us and imbued us with a sense of responsibility - it has also won the hearts and minds of those who now visit us on foot, bicycle, ferry and public transport.

“We now look forward to being able to pour our energies into making Petersham Nurseries even more inspiring and to resuming our workshops for adults and children.

“We are enormously grateful to the thousands of locals who have supported us throughout this process.”

Of the 228 letters sent to planning officials addressing the nurseries’ application to continue as a mixed use facility, 204 were in support of the proposal.

Officers recommended members of the committee approve the application providing bosses submit a full travel plan in accordance with Transport for London’s regulations within three months and continue to prove its reliability.

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