CONTROVERSIAL STEEL CANOPY PROPOSAL FOR CLEETHORPES PUB APPROVED BY PLANNERS

                                    

Welcoming back customers this week - The Scratching Post 

THE Scratching Post on High Street in Cleethorpes has been among the licensed premises to have re-opened its doors this week. 

Judging by the sounds of merriment, everyone seemed to be having a good time out - even those caught out by the heavy showers. 

Perhaps sooner rather than later, rain will cease to be a concern. 

Earlier this month, licensee David Fryer secured consent from North East Lincolnshire Council's planning committee to install a steel canopy at the front.

Forlorn: The Scratching Post during lockdown

The steel canopy plan has not best pleased the council's heritage officer, Louise Jennings, whose comment is as follows: "The Scratching Post lies just outside the Central Cleethorpes Conservation Area and changes to this building will have the potential to impact on the conservation area. 

"The proposals are for a metal canopy to the front of the building which will obscure the mostly intact frontage of this Victorian building.

"It will introduce new unsympathetic materials which will detract both from the building and the conservation area. 

"I would recommend that this application is refused on heritage issues."

However, not for the first time, Ms Jennings' observations were to no avail.

The committee sided with the Engie case officer, Owen Toop, whose lengthy recommendation reads as follows:

"The proposal is to create a covered area on the front terrace to enable seating all year round. 

"This proposal has been considered by the applicant for some time, but the recent coronavirus situation has brought the matter to the fore as seating capacities have to now be considered to meet social distancing requirements. 

"The creation of a covered all weather seating area would allow the applicant to seat another 20 customers outside, which, in the current climate, will be crucial to the viability of the business. 

"This proposed structure would primarily be used during the winter months, and, during the summer, the sheet covering would be removed leaving the frame to act similar to a pergola. 

"The building was historically a single dwelling and retains some elements of this early domestic character with an original bay window still in situ, albeit with later alterations. 

"The building has been a bar and previously a restaurant at first floor since at least the late twentieth century, possibly earlier. 

"The property is in a terraced row with an accountants' office to the east and a vacant former bank to the west. 

"The frontage of the premises faces south onto the High Street with an existing raised terrace with steps down to street level. 

"To the north is a rear alleyway and a terrace of properties served off College Street, but these will be unaffected by the proposal. 

"The effect of the coronavirus pandemic has presented challenges to the hospitality sector, in particular limits to the number of seats in a premises to meet social distancing requirements. 

"The ability to have some all-weather covered seating would give the applicant more scope to operate safely and to keep the business viable."

On the planning committee is Cllr Bill Parkinson who sought to comment on the proposal, but was advised not to participate in the discussion because of his prejudicial interest as proprietor of a competitor business in Cleethorpes.