Jobs hope as doors open for new pub

Shaw & Crompton Parish Council
A JD WETHERSPOON pub could soon be appearing in place of the arson-wrecked Greensway Shopping Centre.

Parish councillors unanimously agreed that planning permission for the new pub should be recommended for approval after previous plans were rejected.

Wetherspoon’s was previously slammed for submitting plans without talking to councillors and planning officers. Architects withdrew the scheme when they learned the planning committee was recommended to reject proposals over concerns about noise from the beer garden.

Objectors said there were too many pubs in the area and that cheap drink being sold would encourage anti-social behaviour and noise.

Councillor John Hall said he supported the venture as he thought it would help drag the other pubs in Shaw up to standard.

Speaking as a borough councillor, Mark Alcock told the meeting how he found the proposals a lot more acceptable than previous plans.

He said: “This is a different class of pub as it will have an area to eat as well.

“It will bring more people in — we need to increase the footfall of people into the town centre and this will do that — as well as bring in employment.”

Councillor David Murphy moved the proposal to approve, but said he had concerns about people stepping out into the highway when outside for a smoke.

Councillor Angie Farrell said other pubs had designated smoking areas at the back but people still stand out at the front.

Wetherspoon’s, which has almost 800 pubs nationwide including the the Squire Knott in Oldham centre, says it will spend £800,000 on the development and create around 40 jobs.