ALEX SCAPENS
PLANS have been revealed this week to convert two more former Stockport pubs into alternative uses.
In a sign that the borough’s social drinking heritage continues to shrink a planning application has been submitted to turn what was the Travellers Call on Glossop Road, Marple Bridge, into two new homes.
Stockport council has received another application this week for the former Adswood Hotel on Adswood Lane West, Cale Green.
It has come from Indigo Planning and seeks to turn the pub, which shut in 2013 according to the planning application, into a 60-bed care home.
Councillor Philip Harding, who is on the planning committee, said: “I think it is a shame for many of these places and the drinking heritage is shrinking.
“Pubs are where people come together and are good meeting points, but the community no longer uses pubs like they once did.
“What is a good thing is that these places are being redeveloped and not just lying empty to decay.”
Another former pub that is earmarked for redevelopment is the Bow Garrett on Brinksway, Cheadle Heath.
It was built in 1774 but currently has a planning application being considered by the council to turn it into eight flats.
In addition Ye Olde Woolpack, also on Brinksway, is currently shut and up for sale on Right Move for £265,000.
Permission has also been given to convert much of the White Lion, on Great Underbank, in the town centre, into flats.
And the go-ahead was also given at the end of last year to turn what was the Little Jack Horner on Lord Street, in the town centre, into a Korean restaurant.
Jim Flynn, from the South Manchester branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), says the organisation is disappointed with the number of pub closures in Stockport and elsewhere.
He added: “I hope there is still a place for the traditional pubs and I suspect the period of mass closures has come to an end in most areas.
“There are some positive fruits, the micro pub niche will continue to grow but the traditional pub will be under pressure for some time.”