Plans to turn renowned Dudley ale pub into supermarket are blocked after hundreds of objections
A well-known real ale pub in the Black Country appears to have been saved after plans to convert it into a supermarket were thrown out by planners.
Almost 400 people had signed a petition opposing plans to turn The Old Chainyard in Coseley into an Asda convenience store.
But the plans, which would have seen the pub extended at the rear to provide 3,634 sq ft of floorspace, have now been rejected by Dudley Council's planning department.
The pub in Castle Street has been run by Amanda Fisher for the past nine years and has regularly featured in the Campaign for Real Ale's Good Beer Guide, where it has been praised for its ales, regular beer festivals and lively atmosphere.
But Miss Fisher was informed in June last year that Red Oak Taverns, which owns the freehold of the pub, had agreed to sell the building to Asda subject to planning permission being granted.
However, Dudley Council's head of planning Carl Mellor rejected the supermarket scheme, saying it was not an efficient use of the site, and would have a detrimental impact on the appearance of the area. He also said it would present a risk to road safety, with insufficient car parking and unsatisfactory access.
A total of 396 people signed a petition organised by pub regular Owen Cope calling for the pub to be saved. Mr Cope said: "I have been going to The Old Chainyard for years myself, and will miss seeing the life and soul of the Coseley area. Locals, regulars, and new customers alike will all miss this beloved pub."
A Dudley Council planning officer's report said a total of 39 objections had been presented to the council, including one from an MP.
The report said that while the development would retain the early 20th century building, the removal of an internal staircase would render the upper floor inaccessible. The rear extension was out of keeping with the appearance of the site the report added.
The officer said such a development would normally require 24 parking spaces, but only made provision for 11.
"The proposal falls significantly short of the parking standards with a shortfall of 13 spaces and the potential for displacement onto the road is considered to pose a significant highway safety issue in this location," said the report.
"The lack of parking, therefore, raises unacceptable highway safety concerns and the development."
John Corser, chairman of the Dudley and South Staffordshire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), said the pub was an important community asset in the Coseley area.
"It is one of the few real ale pubs in the area, and serves an important role in putting on events in the local community," he said.
"It is well used by regulars and visited by Camra members from across the West Midlands and further afield."
Tipton and Wednesbury MP Antonia Bance said she was 'devastated' when she read of the plans, and visited the pub to chat with Miss Fisher and her regulars.
"Our Black Country locals are vital to our community and need to be protected,.” she said.
“It was great to pop in and catch up with the landlady Amanda and her regulars. It's clear, through her hard work over the last 10 years, that the pub is thriving and has so much potential. The Old Chainyard is a much loved community asset we can't afford to lose."
Miss Fisher had said that, if planning permission was granted, she would have expected to be given three months to quit.
The applicant identified 20 pubs within a five-mile radius of The Old Chainyard.
It also submitted a viability report by Savills surveyors, which described the pub as being in poor condition, in need of a £418,166 refurbishment, and a kitchen extension costing £110,000.
“The pub is currently trading, but we understand the existing tenant has struggled significantly to make the pub a success and viable operation in the current market,” said the applicant's report. It said that independent pubs such as The Old Chainyard had suffered more than others since the economic downturn of 2008 due to them not having the economies of scale to compete with the large managed-house operations.
Surveyor Francis Meredith, who co-authored the applicant's report, said: “I therefore see no real need for locals to venture to the pub given the additional services and facilities offered elsewhere from other pub operators.
“I do not consider that the property would attract any significant additional trade, even if refurbished, and would struggle to compete with the surrounding competition.”
