Hotel 'needs car park'

The boss of a busy hotel based in the West Midlands fears that business could suffer if he fails to get permission to turn a field into a car park.

Richard Fletcher, the owner of The Granary Hotel, in Shenstone, Kidderminster, is concerned as he says the current 80-space car park is too small – leading to tailbacks as people try and turn in to find spaces.

Business at the Granary, which has 18 bedrooms and a 100-seater restaurant, has boomed in the last few years but this has resulted in traffic problems.

Mr Fletcher said the hotel is also very popular for weddings.

He owns land next to an unused field and had tried to get temporary planning permission last year for the car park, but was turned down.

Now he has put in a fresh bid to get the go-ahead.

Wyre Forest District Council stated last year that the land must be retained as a field as the land is in a green belt area.

But Mr Fletcher says that there are traffic issues on minor roads and twice a week on the existing car park.

Some vehicles are forced to park on the road.

He said: "There are traffic problems caused at the moment, especially in Heath Lane and cars have been backing up in the lane.

"I want to be a responsible owner and do something about the problem.

"The business is doing very well.

"It has steadily been growing and we need more spaces as it could jeopardise us in the future," he continued.

Mr Fletcher believes the current success of the hotel, which opened in 1978, is due to extensive investment and staff training.

Wyre Forest District Council said last time in their report: "Approval will not be given for the extension of existing hotels in the green belt except in very special circumstances."