Pub car park shop to bring 20 new jobs
A convenience store creating 20 new jobs will be built on a pub car park, under proposals, after developers ruled out calls to transform a rundown shopping parade.
New River Retail has submitted plans to create the Co-operative foodstore on the car park of The Ashwood Inn, in Wordsley.
The firm is behind proposals at the sites of several pubs in the West Midlands after brewery Marston's sold off a total of 202 pubs in a £90 million deal.
Similar proposals have sparked controversy in communities including campaigns to save local pubs such as the Haden Cross Inn, in Cradley Heath, and The Harrowby Arms in Fordhouses, Wolverhampton.
Under these latest proposals, New River Retail says the store would be built on the car park of the Ashwood Inn and would front Sandringham Place.
There would also be 14 car parking spaces created for customers while a further 14 spaces would remain for visitors to the pub.
But campaigners have called on the firm to rethink the proposals and instead build the store at a neighbouring row of shops to give the area a boost.
The community has long called for action over the shops in a bid to clean them up and attract new tenants as three out of the six stores are empty.
Ward councillors Derrick Hemingsley, Glenis Simms and Paul Brothwood have been in talks with the firm.
Councillor Hemingsley said: "My personal view is I'm against it but I'm an elected member and I'm going to call a public meeting to hear residents' views and listen to them.
"I'm disappointed in their comments on the empty shops."
Councillor Brothwood also said he would be looking to meet residents, the pub landlord and developers over the issue.
NewRiver Retail spokesman Martin Hughes said: "We are aware that there is some local concern about the vacant shops in the parade opposite the proposed site for the new convenience store and we think that the creation of a modern new retail unit will enhance significantly the prospects of the parade being regenerated.
"Given the size and layout of the shop units in the parade, they would not meet the needs of the intended operator.
"The plans have the full backing of the landlord of the Ashwood, and the proposed new store will provide an attractive and modern facility offering more choice to local shoppers.
"We're talking to local councillors about the plans which will create around 20 new jobs for local people."
A decision will be taken by Dudley Council's planning department in the coming weeks.
