Planners reveal proposal to rebuild town centre restaurant

PLANS to expand a restaurant and build a new mini-supermarket have been presented to the community.

The owners of the Bay Leaf Lounge, on Wellington Road, want to demolish the current building - the former Waggon and Horses Pub - and replace it with a new purpose built venue.

The new building would house a Sainsbury’s Local on the ground floor with the restaurant taking up the first floor.

Emery Planning, which is in charge of the application, is seeking the views of residents before an official planning application is submitted and residents views are invited before Friday, July 24.

They say while the front of the building has some attractive architectural features, it has been extended over the years with unattractive single storey extensions.

The building has also suffered from a lack of maintenance for a considerable period of time and has been subject to fire damage; some areas are beyond repair. The building is also energy inefficient.

A spokesperson from Sainsbury’s said the new store would create up to 25 new jobs.

The restaurant would have a separate entrance at street level with a staircase and a lift to the first floor.

David Naylor, town clerk for Bollington Town Council, is urging people to have their say by completing the online form.

He said: “This is the preplanning stage, so hopefully the developer will go away and listen to what people are saying when they do put the application in.”

He added that there has been some local objection to the demolition of the former pub.

He said: “People are drawing parallels with the Co-op on Albert Road. They are concerned about traffic and safety, and car parking is a big issue.

“Some people are saying they don’t want another supermarket.

“It’s tricky because the restaurant wants to expand.”

Commenting on the Town Council’s facebook page, Helen Clegg Copping said: “This is a beautiful building. This IS the Waggon and Horses; a landmark in Bollington.”

The Town Council will only discuss the application once it has submitted to the planning authorities.

To comment on the proposal, which is yet to be submitted as a formal planning application, go to emeryplanning.com.

●» Ellen Robinson, from Pott Shrigley, Millie Kenyon, from St John’s, Jack Allen and Katie Barber from Bollington Cross, were among the students presented with bibles from Mayor of Bollington Coun Angela Williams.

●» The Bay Leaf restaurant, Wellington Road, Bollington. Picture taken from Google Street View.