Play area boost for Walsall pub
A popular community pub in Walsall will be able to enhance its offer to families after plans to build an outdoor play area were given the thumbs up.
Walsall Council planners have approved a proposal by Punch Taverns to boost the facilities of the Shire Oak Inn, based on the corner of Lichfield Road and Chester Road.
The pub will create new external play facilities, including a slide and climbing frame, as well as a seating area for punters as a way of enhancing its offer for families who attend the venue.
Work will also see the existing car park altered which will result in a loss of four spaces to give a capacity of 38.
In their application, Punch said the Shire Oak was a vital part of the area where people came to meet and socialise.
They said: "The public house is very popular with the local community, often acting as a meeting place for friends and family as well as being a popular location for local businesses to lunch or relax at the end of the day.
"Often the pub is one of the few places, which is inclusive to many areas of society.
"Punch would like to strengthen this into the area by offering improved external family to make this site more suitable for safe socialising and dining.
"The new refurbishment as a whole will be carried out to our client’s very high standards and will be promoted locally, creating interest around the site.
"People living and working within a short distance of the pub, should be more inclined to visit the pub to use the improved facilities as well as enticing people from further away to come to this destination site.
"Local people may be encouraged to use public transport or walk to this site, rather than driving to pubs further away to get this better level of facility.
"This will help to reduce the traffic at prime socialising times as well as also encouraging money to be spent by the local people to remain in the area.
"Ultimately it may help the local environmental and road safety issues, whilst at the same time encouraging people to drink responsibly and not risk drinking and driving."
