FORMER VILLAGE PUB TO BE CONVERTED TO CONVENIENCE STORE DESPITE PROTESTS

                                                     

New life - as a supermarket - beckons for Waterloo Inn (left)

CONSENT has this week been granted for conversion of part of the empty pub in Laceby to a Co-op store.

Members of North East Lincolnshire Council approved the project despite opposition from some villagers whose concerns included:

* Size of delivery vehicles and hours of delivery.

* Highways safety 

* Impact on existing businesses parking

* Loss of public house and a community asset.

* Out-of-character signage, eyesore, impact on conservation area and centre of village.

* Impact on historic church.

The site is the former Laceby Arms located in the centre of the  village. 

Historically, it was two separate public houses - the Waterloo Inn and Nag's Head - and then a connected one. However the property has been vacant for a number of years.

It is understood that the old Waterloo will become the shop and the Nag's Head will be a separate 'commercial unit'.

Recommending approval, NELC's case officer stated: "The proposal is acceptable in principle and would not be out of character with the surrounding, wider area or local centre, nor would it give rise to significant impacts in terms of neighbouring amenity and highways. 

"It would bring back into use vacant buildings and provide a mixed use development for the area through the retail use and retention of a public house element.

"Also, through the positive use of the buildings and well-designed alterations, the development would enhance the conservation area in which the site sits."