Troubled pub’s DIY solution?

THIRD time lucky? The Village Inn, Ripponden Road, Moorside, could become a DIY store

Planning saga runs and runs
DEVELOPERS are hoping it will be third time lucky for a former Moorside pub which closed in 2010.

The Village Inn in Ripponden Road has twice seen plans rejected and a council investigation has been launched after residents claimed building work had started without planning permission.

But Muhammad Amjad, of Oldham’s Design and Build Solutions and agent for the owners, said the building is being cleared.

“The owner is planning to submit plans to Oldham Council next week to change the use of the building to a DIY store, but no building work will take place until planning permission is accepted.”

An application to transform the former establishment into a shop, offices and three bedsits was refused by the planning committee in February last year.

A second application to change the pub into a takeaway, offices and bedsits was recommended for refusal last September but thrown out before it made it to the committee stage.