Netto Pulls Plug On Cheylesmore Pub Planning Application
Cllr Kevin Foster, Conservative Councillor for Cheylesmore, has today (Tuesday 20th July 2010) reacted to the surprise withdrawal by Netto of its Planning Application for the Cheylesmore Pub Site. The Application was due to be discussed by the City Council's Planning Committee on Thursday and was recommended for refusal by officers.
The Cheylesmore Pub closed in 2006 despite a high profile campaign to save it. The building itself was completely destroyed in a fire that followed shortly afterwards and the site has lain empty since, despite its key position at the heart of the local community.
Following the closure an application was made to develop the site for housing. This Application was rejected by the City Council, but in 2007 the developer concerned secured permission via an Appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. This permission was never exercised due to the collapse of the housing market and in mid 2008 plans for a new Netto store were announced. After a 2 year delay, Netto submitted an application for a 960 square metre Supermarket with associated parking and service area in May 2010.
Cllr Kevin Foster was due to present 2 petitions opposing the application to the Planning Committee on Thursday. The 2 petitions had nearly 2,000 signatures in total.
Cllr Kevin Foster, said: "I am very surprised that at the last minute Netto have withdrawn their application. For the last two years they have deliberately left the site in a mess, whilst making little effort to engage with the wider community, presumably hoping that residents would be prepared to accept whatever they put forward to remove a long running eyesore. Instead of wasting the last two years they could have engaged with the community and tried to identify a plan for the site that meet with the approval of local residents."
He added: "In 2006 a developer thought they could make a quick buck by demolishing the old pub, four years on they need to work with the local community, not ignore them, to bring the site back into use for the benefit of everyone."
