Fight on to block store plans for popular Black Country pub car park

Proposals for the Co-Operative store at the Haden Cross Inn in Halesowen have been lodged with Sandwell Council and will be considered in the coming weeks.

The scheme would reduce parking spaces for pub-goers from 30 to just five.

Chairman of the Friends of Haden Cross Inn group, Tim Haskey, thinks this would be the end for the pub and create its own problems.

He said: "The first issue and the reason we are campaigning is to save the pub. But there is also the issue of health and safety.

"The pub is on a busy road and although this shop may not increase traffic it would increase the number of manoeuvres on and off the car park.

"It is an accident waiting to happen if there was to be a pub and a shop.

"A third issue is we just don't need another convenience store around here."

New River Retail, which owns the Haden Cross, said the proposals had been designed to help safeguard the future of the pub.

But more than 400 people have signed a petition against the plans and the friends group is working to get the pub recognised as an 'asset of community value'.

Mr Haskey believes it would be worthy of the title with its own football team and three darts teams.

He added: "Before 11am, when the pub is shut, the car park is empty. But from 3pm most days it is full.

"There is a quiz night on the Thursday, on a Saturday the football team come in and there are darts on both Monday and Wednesday."

The friends group is holding a public meeting at the pub on January 13 from 7.30pm.

They have invited James Morris, Conservative MP for Halesowen and Rowley Regis, and Labour's parliamentary candidate for the seat, Stephanie Peacock.

Mr Haskey added: "The community needs a foal point. The pub is used by youngsters and older people as well. Men and women and families and the disabled are all welcome.

"It is thriving community pub and there are not many when everyone can feel welcome."