CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a Co-op convenience store next to a village pub near Malvern have been refused for a second time.
New River Retail’s plans to build the shop on land behind The Three Nuns pub in Colletts Green Road, Powick were dismissed by Malvern Hills District Council’s Northern Area Development Management Committee.
The firm’s initial plans were refused by the committee at the start of the year following concerns of traffic chaos, anti-social behaviour and access for lorries.
And highways concerns were the grounds for refusal again with councillors stressing there was no designated footway to access the site, meaning there was a danger for pedestrians.
Councillor Tom Wells said he was worried the amount of allocated car parking for the shop was ‘inadequate’.
“You are going to have 600 people (according to the figures) walking across this small car park with lorries reversing with lights on and making beeping noises – honestly is this going to be safe?,” he said.
“There is no designated footway going to the pub or down to the main road on Sparrowhall Lane, so anyone walking to the site will do without the benefit of a footway.
“The car parking provision is also totally inadequate and compromises public safety.”
Fellow councillor Elaine Newman said the village welcomed the plans for a new shop in Powick but said this was the wrong place for it.
New River Retail, who own the pub, said at the meeting the significantly amended plans fully accorded with planning frameworks and would provide the village with a much needed shop and create around 20 jobs, boosting the local economy.
But the plans were turned down by seven votes to six.
After the meeting a spokesperson for New River Retail, the owners of the Three Nuns said: “We are very disappointed that the Council’s Northern Area Development Management Committee decided by 7 votes to 6 to reject the clear advice from the Council’s professional officers that our proposals were acceptable and complied with planning policy.
“We worked hard to revise this scheme in conjunction with the Council to ensure that previous concerns were fully addressed.
“We will now take some time consider our options.”
The refusal could raise further fears from residents – as previously reported in the Malvern Observer – that New River Retail could demolish the pub in order to get the Co-op store there. However the firm said last month this had not been considered.
Residents against the Co-op plans are in the process of submitting an application to Malvern Hills District Council to make the Three Nuns Pub an Asset of Community Value in the bid of ensuring its future.
