More than a hundred people have objected to plans to build a convenience store on a village pub’s garden.
Graham Heffer of Poole-based Westcoast Convenience Limited wants to build a shop and a block of four flats, taking up most of what is now the Prince Albert’s garden.
The pub’s car park would be retained, with the plans suggesting it would be shared with the retail store.
Planners raised concerns that the loss of garden space plus new homes built next door could impact on the pub’s viability before the current plans were submitted.
But Mr Heffer’s planning agent Pure Town Planning argues the current garden is “oversized” and that the money raised through the development could be invested in the pub.
There’s no indication in the application who the tenant of the new store may be, although several objectors refer to Tesco Express opening there.
Westcoast Convenience has previously applied to build convenience stores, including some which have gone on to become Co-Ops, and drive-through takeaway restaurants at former pub sites across England.
One objector, who lives in Lashmere, said: “The proposed shop development will also be a threat to the recently refurbished convenience store that has got the post office inside and therefore result in an increased risk that this shop will have to shut with consequences for the survival of the post office.
Another said: “The cars attracted will affect the parking that’s allowed by the pub at pick up time for the preschool to make it safer for the children to board rather than on the roadside.”
Another said: “In addition to killing any opportunity for Copthorne to retain its only pub, what does this application offer? A fourth convenience store in a village that does not need it.”
And another said: “Let alone the independent businesses that are going to suffer from having a big chain. The Kwik Mart and the Premier are sufficient in terms of giving locals what they need. Housing makes sense if that’s required but not anymore convenience stores.”
The application says: “Whilst the existing garden is large, it is underutilised and lacks proper seating for it to be able to be used to its full potential.
“The money raised through the proposed development will see investment into the pub including the garden area, resulting in the viability and vitality of the pub improving.
“Further, the relationship between the proposed new apartments and the pub is a common one. The layout ensures the apartments are set away from the pub and as such there will be no amenity concerns with regards to noise.
“The application is supported by a noise impact assessment which demonstrates that the proposed development would provide suitable living conditions for occupiers of the proposed flats.
“The existing public house use is to be retained, the proposed apartments are entirely appropriate in this sustainable location as supported by local policy and the proposed convenience store is of an appropriate size to support the existing population without impacting upon the viability of neighbouring retail centres.”
