RUMOUR MILL: Plans were submitted last month to turn the wine lodge into a 12-bedroom dwelling. Picture: Carl Baker |
RUMOURS that a Marston Green shop will be turned into a “bail
hostel” have been quashed by Solihull Council’s planning officers.
Close to 200 residents objected in just over week, following
reports that plans had been lodged to convert the Ye Olde Wine Lodge, in Elmdon
Road , into a home for offenders.
This caused a storm of criticism on social media, with
locals fearful that “drug addicts” and “low lives” would be staying just a
stone’s throw from the village junior school and retirement housing.
Fears were fuelled by the fact that last month’s
application, to turn the business into a 12 bedroom “multi-occupancy” dwelling,
did not state the purpose of the premises.
But at the weekend, Bickenhill Parish Council insisted they
have spoken to the borough council and officers there are adamant that the
application is not for a hostel.
Despite these reassurances, there remain concerns about the
loss of a long-standing village business and the fact that extra dwellings
would increase traffic at an already “dangerous” junction.
John Waggott, among those to
comment on Solihull Council’s website, said: “This is a totally unsuitable
development for the old centre of Marston Green.
“12 bedrooms with inadequate parking in what is already a busy location with
the library and the welfare
clinic.”
Sarah Neve added: “A potential 12-24 additional
parked cars is ludicrous and a real
safety issue.
“This will become even worse as the numbers of
vehicles using Elmdon Road and Land Lane dramatically increases as more of the properties on the new Moat House
Fields are finished and people move
in.”
While Councillor Bob Sleigh (Con,
Bickenhill) said the application had caused “considerable public concern” and
was inappropriate irrespective of the intended use.
Plans for the site are available
to view here. Residents have until June 23 to comment on the application, which
is likely to be considered by Solihull Council later this year.
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