By Village’s only pub to reopen after ten years
The Bay Horse in Garthorpe is set to be divided into a takeaway, shop, three flats and a pub after a ten-year closure.
A shortage of parking spaces caused a delay in the committee’s decision but plans have now been given the green light.
Ward councillor John Briggs said: “I am very supportive of the pub reopening, particularly when we more often deal with them closing.”
“However, I have my concerns about parking. If there are four parking spaces and four flats, something doesn’t add up.
“If there is a busy pub and a thriving takeaway, where will customers park? They will have to park on the street or block residents’ driveways, creating tension.
“It’s simply not enough. There’s no demand for flats, which are less in keeping with the character of the village.”
Two separate applications were produced by RJE Planning & Development and would see the large pub reduced to a smaller size.
After the pub’s landlady left and no replacement was found the Bay Horse eventually closed in 2012.
The proposed takeaway would be open Monday to Sunday 11 am till 10 pm, with the pub opening 11 am till 11 pm Monday to Sunday
The shop would operate 9am till 6 pm Monday till Friday, remaining closed on weekends and bank holidays.
Councillor Julie Reed said: “I support a rural business coming back online, but the application has to be appropriate for it.
“The village doesn’t have the greatest access, and this could compound the parking problems.
“Additionally, we have already seen in this area where a developer gets permission to create new properties but the pub remains closed.”
Members of the planning committee were told they couldn’t legally make the pub reopening a condition of passing approval.
The developer had previously told the committee reopening the pub alone wouldn’t be financially viable, and that the flats were needed for the project to go ahead.
The committee was assured by council officers that the additional traffic wouldn’t cause a problem.
The committee decided to overlook residents’ concerns, passing both applications unanimously.
