Walsall nightclub changes 'in breach of rules'

Walsall Council has taken enforcement action out against the Colliseum on Newport Road although venue bosses say they have obtained permission for most of the alterations they have made.

A report tabled before the authority's planning committee this week reveals the council has taken issue with the fact double glazed windows have been installed on the second floor as well as the painting of the grade II-listed building's exterior which has bright red pillars.

Officers have declared an 'invalid' application has been made in an attempt to legitimise the breaches which has not been accepted by planning chiefs.

It comes after enforcement officers held talks with club bosses last month to try to resolve the issue.

Suky Samra, of Capital Leisure which runs the Colliseum as well as Club X, also in Walsall, has disputed some of the alleged breaches.

He said: "The only breaches are the double-glazed windows which were fitted in 2000, but in 2006 another business on Bradford Street got permission to have them, which is within the conservation area. It sets a precedent.

"We have permission for everything else we have done to the building I have the approved plans here.

"Myself and fellow businesses in the area have had letters from the council saying enforcement action is being taken and we could be fined.

"If you look at national planning policy it says enforcement should be the last resort. Captial Leisure has owned the popular nightspot for more than 20 years. Mr Samra also claimed he was unaware that the venue would be discussed by the committee. "This is the first I had heard about it. I had no idea it was going before the planning committee this week. We have heard nothing from the council. It is not like we haven't been proactive about things," he said.

The report tabled on Thursday was just for noting to update the committee on the progress.

It stated there was 'continued non-compliance' with listed building enforcement notices. As well as the second floor windows the first floor windows were also declared as an 'offence'. A planning application has been submitted to the council in relation to the building changes but the authority stated it was still awaiting further documents. No one from Walsall Council was available to comment.

Council enforcement officers are currently dealing with more than 20 cases, which were included on Thursday's report.

Among the issues was the state of Ravenscourt shopping centre in Brownhills which has rundown attracting anti-social behaviour on the back of a failed development bid for a multi-million pound supermarket on the site two years ago.

Other cases included 'unsightly' derelict buildings as well as residence that was turned into a car repairs workshop. Other issues on the list included the latest on the controversy surrounding the Hawthorns care home in Aldridge, which the authority threatened to bulldoze at one stage over claims it was not meeting planning regulations.

The report stated talks were ongoing between the two parties who are working towards a resolution. At the meeting an update was also provided on warehouses in Butts Road and Wolverhampton Street which had been converted for housing without consent.

Enforcement action ordered by the council earlier this year would have seen dozens of residents evicted from two unauthorised houses of multiple occupation but that has now been suspended The council has now confirmed it has put that action on hold after businessman Jim Haliburton submitted planning applications, to the authority. He has previously defended the properties stating the planning process took longer than expected.