Wolverhampton pub to remain open - despite demolition plans
A pub licensee has assured customers he will be open for business for the foreseeable future, despite plans to demolish the building and replace it with houses.
Plans to demolish the King Charles in Bushbury will be considered by councillors next week, but licensee Dean Parkes said the pub was likely to remain open for some months even if the plans are approved.
Developer Malvern Estates has applied to build 14 houses on the site of the pub in Cromwell Road, and Wolverhampton City Council planning officer Ragbir Sahota is recommending the scheme is given the go-ahead.
However, Mr Parkes said if the plan was approved it was likely to be several months before actual demolition took place.
"We have a loyal band of customers here, some of them are here from when we open at 2pm," he said.
"Obviously they will be gutted if we close, because there will be nowhere for them to go, but it's just one of those things.
"The pub is under offer at the moment, and if permission is given, it will be sold, but we will still be open for the foreseeable future."
He said the pub would be open from 2pm to midnight Monday to Thursday, and from 12pm to midnight on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and offered a free function room for parties.
The plans to redevelop the site will be considered by Wolverhampton's planning committee on Tuesday next week.
Mr Sahota said there had been four letters in support of demolition, and three against.
"Two letters object to the loss of the public house as a community facility, and one raises concerns about the road junction and the disturbance during construction.
He recommended that outline permission should be granted subject to conditions, including the developer contributing £105,621 towards improvements to Northwood Park.
Councillor Ian Angus said he would be sad to see the pub go, but believed many would support the scheme.
