JD Wetherspoon has scrapped plans to open a controversial £1 million town centre pub which faced a raft of objections from residents and councillors.
The national chain was due to open its third premises, creating up to 40 new jobs, in Shrewsbury’s Pride Hill Shopping Centre next year, but the planning application has been withdrawn. Up until last week, the company said it still intended to operate three venues in the town, but bosses now say that they are happy with just two.
The pub giant recently opened its second business, called Montgomery’s Tower, on the former Bar Med site which it bought at the end of May when that company went into administration. It has spent £520,000 on developing it.
Eddie Gershon, spokesperson, said although trading conditions were tough, the decision to pull out of the third site had nothing to do with the credit crunch.
He said: “Pride Hill Shopping Centre was a site that we were interested in, but then the opportunity came up out of the blue to purchase the Bar Med site which was too good to miss.
“We feel that two pubs in Shrewsbury is enough for now, but that’s not to rule out more for the future.”
The plans for the Roushill pub faced a number of objections from residents.
It was delayed by councillors who were reluctant to grant approval without imposing stringent licensing and planning conditions.
Wrangles over opening hours, a limit on numbers allowed into the premises and a Section 106 agreement about street cleaning and CCTV were discussed at several development control meetings earlier this year.
Judith Williams, Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough councillor, said: “I am very pleased that Wetherspoon is satisfied with the two premises it has. The two local members who were against the application in Roushill are delighted.
“They speak on behalf of residents that it was inappropriate for the area and they are glad the application has been withdrawn.”
Dr Alan Shrank, of the Shrewsbury Town Centre Residents’ Association, said: “The idea of having three Wetherspoon’s pubs all within 200 yards of each other was not sensible.”
Nick Pitt, Darwin and Pride Hill Shopping Centre manager, said: “We are looking at a couple of plans for the site and negotiations are underway, but they are in the early stages so we are not in a position to give more details at the moment.”