UPDATED -Stapleford: Plans for even more pubs and take away's
02 August, 2007
The former Health Centre, which is boarded up and empty, on Derby Road could be knocked down and a new public house built on the site.
J D Weatherspoon PLC has submitted plans to construct a public house to Broxtowe Borough Council.
The original site at number 97 was used as a surgery by Dr Boyd, who many residents in the town will remember with much fondness. If Weatherspoon’s are to redevelop the site it would be fitting for the doctor to be remembered in some way.
Warren Arms
However, plans to extend and renovate another currently empty pub – the Warren Arms at 76, Derby Road, have been withdrawn.
Plans included the construction of a single storey extension and external alterations to the public house to form two retail units and a refuse store.
The Warren Arms has been a pub since at least 1750 and was named after the Warren family who lived in Stapleford Hall.
Another Take away and restaurant
The former and long-established family business, Greg Shakepeare’s furniture shop at 173 – 175 also looks set to become yet another restaurant and take away.
One Stapleford resident told NG9: “This is a long standing issue and who knows when it will end.
“Well over a year ago, I did a survey along Derby Road from the Roach to the railway bridge at Sandiacre and counted at least 25 hot food outlets in Stapleford.
“And since then two more have opened that I know of and that’s not including any current applications.
“It is getting ridiculous.”
Planning Law
The Mayor of Broxtowe, Councillor Brian Wombwell, added: “The Government have been saying for some time that they want people to have a say in how their environment should develop in the future and many public consultations have been held.
“However, Planning Law is quite explicit in what is allowed and what is not allowed.
“If someone buys or leases a property they can use it for whatever purpose they want as long as it is lawful.
“Last year I managed to get the Planning Committee at Broxtowe Borough Council to reject plans for a Chinese takeaway on the grounds that the area was over provided for hot food restaurants and takeaways but the owner appealed the decision and a Government Inspector ruled that the application did not contravene any Planning Law and he overturned our decision.
“Appalled”
“As a local Councillor who has been actively engaged with regeneration of Stapleford Town Centre I am appalled that local people have no say whatsoever.
“Decisions have to be made as to whether food outlets are better than empty shops and if more people used what shops we have then other shops may be attracted in to give us a more diverse range of shopping opportunities.”
By Editor.
