Landlord backs ‘once in a lifetime’ £50m leisure plan for Astbury Estate
A pub landlord has backed plans for the £50m redevelopment of a nearby estate, hailing it as "an extraordinary once in a lifetime opportunity".
John King, owner of the Bull's Head Inn in Chelmarsh, has written to Shropshire Council in support of plans from the FCFM Group to redevelop the Astbury Estate, near Bridgnorth.
The company wants to create a "world class" holiday destination at the site with golf, tennis, and spa facilities, and nearly 300 wooden lodges.
It is currently seeking planning permission for the project from Shropshire Council.
Mr King said the plan would create jobs and support local business, and that it would be "indefensible" if the opportunity is lost.
He said: "I would estimate that well over eighty per cent of our customers are greatly in favour of this very dynamic, inspired and enterprising development that offers them, their families, and very importantly their children, some great hope and opportunity for their future."
He added: "The promise of a great number of very varied jobs and indeed, careers that this development offers within, and outside the estate with suppliers and sub-contractors, is a great opportunity for local residents. There are a very substantial number of local residents in the areas of and around Bridgnorth and Highley who have a daily commute to Wolverhampton, the Black Country and beyond, and anything that may assist in reducing this number is certainly to be greatly encouraged."
Mr King said the Astbury development would build on Shropshire's existing tourist attractions and help to bring more people to the county.
He said: "There are some great visitor attractions in the county and nearby borders with Worcestershire, namely historic Bridgnorth, The Shropshire Hills, The Severn Valley Railway, RAF Museum Cosford, Ironbridge and its museums, Bewdley and its safari park, and wonderful Ludlow, described by John Betjeman as '... probably the loveliest town in England'. The nearby magnificent River Severn is a great magnet for anglers who visit from near and far in excellent numbers to attempt to catch the elusive, robust and very resilient 'Barbel'.
"In addition to this very impressive and admirable list of attractions, with the introduction of the 'Astbury Estate' development, I firmly believe that within a relatively short period of time and employing the correct marketing, all of these attractions could easily find very significant new markets, particularly given the estimated amount that residents and visitors to Astbury will spend in the local community."
He added: "This is an extraordinary once in a lifetime opportunity that should be readily welcomed by everyone. If it is not accepted by the council in good time to meet the timeframe that FCFM have indicated, it may well be that the opportunity is lost and if that should be the case, then it would be indefensible for Shropshire Council or anyone else to later defend any reason to reject it."
