Do you want a Wetherspoons in Christchurch Town Centre ?

By blacksteff0 | Thursday, April 08, 2010, 09:07

A reader has recently brought this story to our attention and quotes on his facebook page "Everybody, help to stop this! Write to Melanie Sutton at Christchurch

Wetherspoons - welcome to Christchurch .... or not ?

Borough Council quoting Application Number 8/10/0052 NOW! Deadline for

objections is 12th April latest. 99p a pint = lots of drunken chavs

being sick over our lovely town".

Whether you just want to air your views in the discussion box below or

you will be taking your opinions to Planning - We'd love to hear what

you think by posting your comments on this page to get an idea of the

general feelings about this application.

What do you think ? In the Application Document it paints a rather lovely picture. Re-using the site where the sorting office used to be located down Wick Lane.

The Design and Access Statement says the "proposal will introduce a visible change to this area of the town. The vitality of the surrounding vicinity will be increased by bringing footfall and custom to the town centre outside of normal working hours. This therefore increases the viablity of the whole area ..."

I can't say that I have ever been in a Wetherspoons and been faced by "drunken chavs being sick". In fact a Wetherspoons has, on many occassions saved the day for me on days out when the weather has turned rather inclement and we have sought sanctuary with a nice cup of coffee and a meal !

However, I do understand the need to err on the side of caution for a development like this in Christchurch as its peace and tranquility, especially on an evening, makes it so unique and so very different from Bournemouth.

But will this caution lead to rejection and prohibit people from choice ? I am pleased to have observed that the "Chav" culture seems to be on a rather steep decline in Christchurch in favour of some "EMO" or "GOTH" genre, which seem a far more ameanable lot ! However, should a bunch of "Chavs" decide they are going to get drunk and throw up in doorways - the "offie" would be a far cheaper option and the lure of sitting on the Quay somewhere to consume the vast quantity of liquor to promote such a gut reaction would be more alluring to the "spondoolied restricted chav !"

LET THE PEOPLE OF CHRISTCHURCH SPEAK !

The Design and Access brief can be viewed here https://revenues.christchurch.gov.uk/planningportal/temp/app/8_10_0052/DESIGN%20AND%20ACCESS%20STATEMENT.PDF

Proposed Elevations here :- https://revenues.christchurch.gov.uk/planningportal/temp/app/8_10_0052/PROPOSED%20ELEVATIONS.PDF

And finally the Application detail can be viewed here :- http://webapps.christchurch.gov.uk/PlanningApplications/pages/ApplicationDetails.aspx?Application=8/10/0052&Authority=Christchurch%20Borough%20Council

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Comments

God, I hope they reject it. Christchurch isn't the place for a chain pub. It's the original pubs like The Ship and The Ye Old George that make the place what it is.

By DomCar at 10:35 on 25/05/10
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Just a quick update on this article. The Planning Officers recommendation on this Application is that it should be "Rejected".
We will just have to wait for the outcome of the Planning Meeting.

By blacksteff0 at 18:53 on 28/04/10
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Have any of you actually seen the proposed plan regarding what this to look like ? Please try and look at it.
It is appalling !!! Look around at the buildings near it, they are a mixture of Georgian and older, many are listed. It is in a conservation area, close to the Priory.
OK the existing building is a piece of 1960's architecture at its worse but any alteration should be made to enhance it, considering its position in the town centre. This is an opportunity to make it look better in a way that is sympathetic to where it is.
What is proposed is a glass and stainless steel box, suitable for a modern city centre, maybe , but not historic Christchurch.
ps they have made no provision for there industrial size bins., full of stinking food waste and empty glass bottles. Do we want them out on the street ? In a tourist area ?

By chritters at 13:15 on 10/04/10
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It is certainly a "suck it and see" situation.
Whatever the outcome, surely it must be better than an empty property, or will it ? Even with something like a pizza parlour are there associated problems i.e. empty pizza boxes strewn around the street and how many more eateries does Christchurch actually need of the same type ?
I'm personally quite intrigued to see the outcome of the Application and its end result. Surely if it brings more local jobs and the facade is inkeeping with Christchurch's sensitivites, can it be a bad thing ?
Even if it did turn out to be Wetherspoons could one establishment bring such turmoil to our town ?

By blacksteff0 at 09:29 on 09/04/10
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Having studied the plans and looked at the area of the site, it just doesn't seem a big enough area for a Wetherspoons. Generally Wetherspoons establishments have a much greater floor area, they need this to get enough bods in to get the high turnover to sell the beer etc at a reasonable price.
Unless the old post office etc is combined I can't see how the existing planning application can possibly offer the floor space that would be financially viable to a chain as large and successful as Wetherspoons.
Possibly if A3 planning was approved then a further, later application might be put in for change of use for the post office site, and join the two together.
Maybe it'll just end up as a Pizza Express????
The Wetherspoons rumours seem to stem from rumours that Wetherspoons wanted to get the old Woolworths site, but the 99p store beat them to it.
Are people over reacting to a chinese whispers situation?

By Lizev2 at 00:31 on 09/04/10
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