Landmark Willenhall pub will become food store

The decision on the British Oak in Short Heath was made at Walsall Council's planning committee last night, with bosses also approving plans for 100 new homes across the borough.

Regeneration schemes for 51 flats and houses in Tasker Street off Wednesbury Road near Caldmore, 25 on land in Willenhall and 18 in Bloxwich were agreed by councillors.

Moves to transform the British Oak, in High Road, into a shop were backed by the planning committee, despite concerns over the amount of similar businesses in the Lane Head area.

Ravinder Bhandal, of the nearby Nisa store, said residents and traders felt there was no need for another shop. But the scheme was approved after members agreed with officers' recommendations it would contribute to the area.

However, the transformation of the Brown Jug pub site, in nearby Sandbeds Road, into a supermarket creating 10 jobs was turned down.

Willenhall North councillor Ian Shires, of the committee, said: "It would threaten the viability of the district centre. People would come to this store and they wouldn't walk up the road.

"It would be really good to get a viable housing development in there which would compliment the area."

Housing developments granted permission were for a mix of 31 houses and 20 flats in Tasker Street and another 25 properties on the former Comet depot, in Walsall Road, Willenhall.

Two derelict buildings at the rear of Market Place, will also be pulled down and replaced with new buildings for nine apartments. While six houses will be built on parcels of land with half fronting Victoria Street and the others on to Bloxwich Road South.

A total of 18 units at the former Frances Sharpe House in Kempthorne Gardens, Bloxwich, will also become a reality.

However, a plan for 14 properties in place of the former Barley Mow in Goscote was deferred. This was after concerns were raised about the design, highways issues, lack of an ecology report and the need for consultation with the public over the best way to co-ordinate a scheme for the now vacant site.

Issues were over the close proximity to existing homes in Henley Road were put forward and 10 objections submitted.

Councillor Brian Douglas-Maul, who sits on the planning committee, said: "It is our duty to try and get the best design we can for a particular site."

A decision over two new homes off Thornhill Road, Streetly, was also deferred for discussions.