Anger over plans to bulldoze much-loved Wolverhampton pub

Dozens of residents made their feelings clear when plans to transform The Claregate pub on Codsall Road, were revealed to the public for the first time during a two-hour consultation event.

Care home firm Crown Care want to turn the pub - which was once regularly attended by Wolves legend Billy Wright - into a 'high quality development' catering for up to 76 residents offering up to 100 jobs in the process.

The pub has been under threat since owners of the pub Marstons launched a consultation over its future.

Crown Care say the proposed care home is in an ideal location as it would create much-needed care provision for the elderly on a site where there are good transport links nearby and shops for potential residents to visit.

But that positivity was not echoed at Christ the King's Church in Pendeford Avenue where residents expressed their anger over the plans saying it would wreck the Claregate community.

Feelings were so strong that several people who attended had even taken the day off work to express their feelings.

One of those residents was John Whilton, 50 from nearby Lynton Avenue, who said: "I and many residents feel totally betrayed by Marstons for launching a consultation over the pub's future.

"Claregate won't be the same again without the pub, it's as simple as that.

"This would be a huge loss to the community. The pub is used a lot now for functions and it would be a massive shame for it to go. It would rip up the heart of the community.

"I work in Wednesbury but I've taken the day off to be here today. I don't think Crown Care realise how much feeling there is among residents about this."

Suzie Lavender, 35, from Blackburn Avenue is a regular at The Claregate pub and called the plans 'ridiculous'.

"The plans are totally out of character for the area - they are ridiculous," she said.

"I've just seen the plans and it looks like a Magistrates Court.

"The pub has improved so much over the past eight months or so since the new owners came in.

"It would be hugely upsetting if it was to go. It needs investing in not demolishing."

Dave Crisp, 48, from Blackburn Avenue, said: "I'm all up for creating new care homes but for this is totally in the wrong location.

"There are plenty of other places where they could build a care home, why do they have to come here and demolish a pub which is doing well."

A campaign group called 'Save Our Claygate', which has more than 1,000 members, also made their feelings clear during the consultation with their presence well known with a banner on display outside the church.

The campaign group are hoping a formal bid to Wolverhampton City Council to make the pub an Asset of Community Value will keep the pub on its site.

Robin Hewitt, founder of the campaign, said the timing of the consultation, which was held between 12pm and 2pm on Wednesday, had upset many people because they were not able to attend.

"We are not against the plans to build a new care home but we don't want to see our much loved pub go as a result," he said.

"You can argue it is fair enough if the pub was empty or struggling but the Claregate is currently successful, making profit and is a big part of the community. There is potential for profits to increase given the popularity it has had recently.

"To lose it would be a massive loss to the community. There are plenty of unused sites in Wolverhampton where the care home could be built on.

"The number of people here today shows how much feeling there is to keep the pub. And there were many here who could not make it because of work commitments."

Wendy Conn, managing director of healthcare at Crown Care, said: "It has been a good consultation and there's certainly strong feeling there.

"People have been really nice saying they don't oppose the need for a care home but the issue is they just don't want to see the pub go.

"This consultation is all about engaging public opinion and that is what we've done. We will now go back and take note of what residents have had to say."

Crown Care also said they were happy to consider arranging another consultation event should residents feel the need for one at a more suitable time.