Pub parking row puts plan for flats in Yapton on hold

The argument means the owner of the Shoulder of Mutton and Cucumbers has withdrawn proposals to convert the Georgian building into residential accommodation.

Further talks are being planned between Enterprise Inns and highways officers at West Sussex County Council to overcome the stalemate.

Enterprise Inns' planning agent, Alan Baker, said the situation just needed some common-sense to be resolved.

He stated that the proposals would see the previous situation where parking took place along the pub's forecourt in Main Road and drivers reversed out of the spaces replaced by parking at the rear of the building.

"This seems to me to be a whole lot safer than having drivers reversing out into the road.

"The proposed parking situation might not be perfect but it has to be better than what was there before

"If it ticks nine out of ten boxes in highways matters, I would have thought that was good enough. We are also proposing a pavement in front of the former pub.

"But, if the highways officers were going to object, it means the application would have been refused.

Enterprise Inns thought it was better to withdraw the application and put in a fresh one once the parking matters had been resolved."

Mr Baker, the senior partner of Baker Associates, said he hoped a new application to redevelop the former pub, a grade II listed building, would be submitted in about a month for Arun District Council to decide.

Ian Gledhill, of the county council, told Arun many of the highways concerns focused on the fact Main Road would be narrowed by an unacceptable amount by the new pavement to create a substandard road.

This could put walkers along the proposed footpath in danger from vehicles mounting the kerb or place drivers along the narrowed road in conflict with oncoming vehicles.

The principle of the scheme will stay the same. As the Observer reported in September, the pub has closed and will never re-open.

Falling trade and the cost of repairing the building means Enterprise has decided to add it to the national list of local pubs being lost to their communities.

Drinkers will be replaced by four flats in what was the pub.

A further four flats will be built above a block of garages. There will also be parking for two more cars.

Listed building consent is needed for the works as well to reflect the former pub's historic status in Yapton.

Mr Baker said the mixture of flats '“ with one and two bedrooms '“ had been chosen to appeal to a wide range of occupiers.

But the scheme has attracted opposition from Yapton's parish councillors.

They mentioned safety concerns in their comments to Arun soon after the application was submitted.

They also believe that the proposed development will be out of character and adversely impact on the appearance of an historic part of the village.

They consider the proposals to be inappropriate as well and harmful to the character and appearance of the actual building.

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