Two landmark Black Country pub will be knocked down after supermarket plans were backed
Two landmark pubs will be knocked down after a decision to refuse a supermarket giant permission to build stores on the sites was overturned following an appeal.
Punters have been left devastated by the ruling which will see the Summer House in Woodsetton and the Maypole Inn in Hasbury, Halesowen, torn down.
Co-op stores will then be built on the site of the pubs, which are still open.
Campaigns were launched to try and save both pubs and appeared to have been successful when Dudley Council threw out the applications.
But an independent planning inspector has decided the Co-op should be allowed to move onto the site. Councillor Jeff Hill, who represents Hayley Green and Cradley South, said the decision was 'frustrating'.
New River Retail, which bought both pubs from Marston's three years ago, had been urged to 'respect the views of residents' by not appealing when councillors made their decision.
Councillor Hill said: "It's very disappointing.
There is a lot of frustration that a body so remote from the local area in Bristol is able to overturn this decision."
