Chance to comment on Englishcombe Inn conversion plans

9.18.02am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 10th Jun 2009

Local ward Councillors are encouraging former regulars of the Englishcombe Inn and local residents in the area to comment on Cedar Care's revised planning application for conversion of the Inn into a 40 bed care home.

The previous planning application was not refused due to the change of use of the site from a public house to a care home, but on a range of other planning grounds.

Councillor Will Sandry (Oldfield Ward, Lib Dem) chaired a public meeting on the 28th May 2009 to bring together the concerned former regulars and local residents with the developers and their architects. The revised plans were displayed and many residents took the opportunity to quiz the developer, Mr Ash Desai, on the revisions to the plans.

Councillor Will Sandry said, "Many local residents took the opportunity to ask important and searching questions of the developer and architects on their revised plans. Residents particularly wanted to know whether concerns they had previously expressed were being addressed in the new proposals.

"Former regulars of the Englishcombe Inn also voiced their opposition to the plans and to the loss of a public house which was a community asset in the area."

At the meeting Councillor Shaun McGall (Oldfield Ward, Lib Dem) explained the way the planning process works and urged residents to get involved with the process by submitting official comments on the new planning application.

Councillor McGall added, "It's vital that former regulars and local residents take the opportunity to make their voices heard on this application, whether for or against.

"I encouraged residents to send a copy of their comments to their local Councillors. If there is a lot of opposition to the application then we will request that the planning application should be decided in public by the planning committee rather than by planning officers."