Beer garden plan leaves bitter taste

OUTDOOR plans... Shay Wake deputy manager Simon Briggs in the yard the pub wants to turn into a beer garden

A PUB’S latest attempt to create a beer garden close to neighbouring homes has been blasted by residents and councillors.

JD Wetherspoon pub The Shay Wake in Shaw was given planning permission two years ago after scrapping controversial plans for an outdoor seated area only a few yards from the balconies of local homes yards away.

A fresh application was approved with the condition that members of the public could only enter the yard in an emergency.

Wetherspoon’s has now applied to change the condition temporarily, to turn the yard into a 30-seater area for customers. The public would be able to use the garden until 8pm each night and the area would be monitored by staff and CCTV.

But Shaw and Crompton parish councillors have unanimously rejected the idea. Parish council chairman Dave Murphy said: “I have serious concerns over noise affecting local properties. The yard is only three or four car lengths away.”

One woman, who lives locally, said: “There’s quite a lot of trouble that spills out onto the car park and it’s slowly getting worse. If this goes ahead it will be horrendous.”

Wetherspoon’s deputy manager Simon Briggs said opening times would be discussed in detail after the council’s decision.

“If we are saying it would be shut at 8pm, then it would be — no question about it,” he added. “We are going to bear in mind the residents in the area.”

Oldham Council planning committee will hold the final decision.