Last orders called for region's forgotten pubs

But controversial proposals to build a supermarket on the car park of another have been withdrawn before they reached council chiefs.

The sites in Wolverhampton, Willenhall and Dudley are all standing empty – with one of the pubs having been a target for vandals for 15 years.

Complaints about The Patchbox pub in Bilston date back to 2000 when youngsters were jumping from roof to roof.

The building has since been demolished and now plans for 10 apartments have been given the go-ahead.

The Pyle Cock Inn in Wednesfield will become a day nursery creating 25 jobs.

But councillors have raised concerns that yet another historic pub is being lost.

The Asian Christian Fellowship of Wolverhampton (ACFW) has also been given the green light to set up a new base in an old social club.

It was forced to leave its 40-year home at the Darlington Street Methodist Church last March when the premises was severely damaged by fire.

Since then the group has been putting on services at The Church At Broad Street and the Tabernacle Baptist Church on Dunstall Road.

But after a 10-month search of the city the group is moving into the old Oxbarn Members Club in Church Road, Bradmore.

Wolverhampton City Council's planning committee approved the proposals and fellowship pastor Hari Kaul said: "We are over the moon that we have been given permission to use the site as our base. We now look forward to sitting down with all the trustees of our church and key members and deciding what to do next."

Proposals to transform a former town centre pub into a pizza takeaway have also been approved – despite it being too close to a school.

The Struggling Man in Salop Street, Dudley will become a Papa Johns. And 14 homes could be built on the site of a former pub in Kingswinford. The Summerhouse, The Portway, would be demolished to make way for the development, which will go before Dudley Council in the coming weeks.

While the site of the former Cavalcade in Willenhall would become 18 flats and 15 houses if plans are given the go-ahead. An application has been submitted.

Campaigners had fought plans to build a supermarket on the car park of Wednesfield's Ashmore Inn.

Council bosses had been recommended to give the go-ahead at a meeting this week - but the proposals were withdrawn at the last minute.

The idea of turning the pub itself into a shopping centre were scrapped following a public outcry but New River Retail now wants to erect a 3,000sqft Co-operative convenience store there.

A 130-name petition was collected by residents who are concerned about an increase in traffic and the effect on nearby shops.

Councillor Phil Bateman, who represents Wednesfield North, welcomed the withdrawal but said residents would continue to fight. He added: "The proposed shop would have a big impact on the area in terms of increased noise a