Express & Star

Wolverhampton micropub plan opposed

Residents have launched a petition against proposals to build a micro-pub on a busy street.

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People who live along Newhampton Road West in Wolverhampton have put the petition together against plans submitted to Wolverhampton council.

Developers want to transform a former windows and conservatories showroom into the micro-pub.

Residents say a pub would increase noise and traffic pollution along the street, which they say already suffers from a lack of parking. The petition has more than 30 signatures so far.

Carol Widenbar, who launched the protest, has challenged the applicant's claim that most people would walk to the new pub.

"Of the people who have registered their support on line, more than half live three miles or more away so it is a fallacy to say people would walk to it," she said. "On this basis, they have dismissed the parking issue, which is a serious one."

Mrs Widenbar, who lives a few doors from the proposed micro-pub, argued that there were just four available parking spaces for potential customers rather than the 10 claimed by the applicant. She added: "There are lots of businesses around here, including three pubs. Only 60-odd notifications were posted through doors. Some of my my neighbours did not know about it and they are furious.

"Some have young children and need to know they can access to their properties at all times." Councillor Craig Collingswood, Labour councillor for Park ward, has backed the residents' response to the plans.

He said: "I have had several residents approach me with objections to these plans. Not one person I have spoken to supports the plans at all. I have no problem with people having entrepreneurial spirit but is this really the right place for this type of development?"

The plans will be reviewed by the council before a decision is made.

The applicant, James McCann, was unavailable for comment. However, a statement submitted to the council said: "I'm sure we may meet initial resistance. We will work with the local residents to ensure our venture does not cause any nuisance."

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