Travelodge scrap Cannock hotel plans

Bosses revealed the decision to withdraw was down to issues with the Watling Street site, but insist they have not given up on bringing a hotel to the town.

Nick Dines, spokesman for Travelodge said: "We had an agreement in place with a developer but unfortunately they were not able to bring the site forward.

"We are still very, very keen to have a site in Cannock.

"We were ready to go with this one until the developer said they could not develop it.

"But we are now looking elsewhere in Cannock for a replacement location."

Cannock Chase District Council gave planning consent for the hotel in 2010, hailing it as a huge boost for the town which would bring dozens of permanent jobs as well as more than 100 temporary positions in the construction of the building.

But the site at Gallan Park next to Finning UK has remained untouched since then, raising questions about its future.

The council's 2014/2015 end of year performance report states that the scheme had not been implemented due to financial problems and the authority have now confirmed Travelodge have pulled out altogether, adding bosses at Gallan Park were now marketing the site for a range of commercial uses.

In the last few days the Gallan Group has removed a promotional mock-up of the Travelodge Hotel from its website.

Freight firm Rhenus Logistics is up and running at the site but park chiefs have not commented on what will happen with the rest of the 14-acre plot following Travelodge's withdrawal.

The failed development has had a knock-on effect in Cannock as the district council revealed it had missed its two major tourism targets this year including increasing the number of tourism beds in the area.

There are around 1,235 spaces available for visitors at the moment - 25 less than in 2013.

Although those numbers could be boosted after Premier Inn lodged a planning application last month to expand its hotel in Watling Street by nearly a third.

The £1.4million investment would see the number of rooms increase from 60 to 78 and would also create extra jobs at the site.

The plans are currently under public consultation and the council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.

Councillor Andy Lovell, corporate improvement boss, said: "The longer-term aim is still to grow the number of bedrooms and hotels offering extra beds in Cannock Chase district.

"The council is confident we are doing everything we can to move that forward."