PLANS to demolish a landmark pub and build a supermarket on the site will come before Warrington planning chiefs next week – submitted by Danish cut-price retailer Netto.
The application is apparently going ahead despite Netto having closed all its 16 stores across the North West and pulling out of the UK altogether.
No mention is made of the demise of Netto in the application – but planning officers point out that the application is simply for a retail store and the matter of who will operate it is not a planning issue.
The pub involved is the Sportsman’s Arms at Penketh and local people have mounted a major campaign opposing the scheme.
Penketh Parish Council has lodged an objection as has the Victorian Society, who described the pub as a “handsome building, an attractive and characterful example of a late nineteenth century public house.
Local borough councillors have also expressed concern.
Some 88 local people have objected – but 48 have written letters of support.
The pub has successfully been listed as a community asset.. But brewery chiefs say it is no longer viable as a pub and will be closed whether or not the application to demolish it is approved.
Planning officers say the residents of Penketh are currently well served by pubs, with eight within 1.2 miles and one, the Red Lion, immediately opposite. The site is also appropriate for a retail store.
They point out that the Sportsman’s Arms is not a Listed Building, nor in a conservation area. However, they accept it is an attractive , traditional pub which forms part of the area’s history and makes a positive contribution to the local street scene.
The proposed new store would be of similar size to the former Netto store at Lymm, which is now standing empty having closed at the beginning of August after trading for just eight months.
An artist’s impression of Netto’s original plan for the store
2 Comments
I would have thought an objection by the Victorian Society would have had some clout in a town considering an application for ‘City Of Culture’. I certainly don’t think replacing traditional / historic / attractive / community asset with cheap and nasty will pull any points. If WBC are seriously considering spending £millions of pounds of public money on a ‘City of Culture’ bid it might be an idea to first ensure the commitment of the town’s planning dept.
The brewery say it is no longer viable as a pub – since when did bad management become a planning issue?
Has there been an objection by the Victorian Society?