A new late night bar could be coming to Wirral, with 35 jobs to be created according to the firm behind the plans.
Hydes Brewery Ltd wants to open a pub/restaurant on Telegraph Road, in Heswall, in plans which would see the conversion of the Wirral town’s former police station. The applicant wants to open the venue from 11am until 2am on Friday and Saturday night’s and from the same time until 1am throughout the rest of the week.
Hydes Brewery will have its proposal debated at Wirral Council’s Licensing Panel on Friday, with three councillors able to accept or reject the company’s application for a premises licence. The panel could also choose to reduce the hours the venue can open between, even if it accepts the application.
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Five residents have written to Wirral Council, saying they are worried that patrons may cause public nuisance in the outside area of the premises and when they leave the venue late at night. They also had concerns about noise nuisance they feel may be caused by entertainment at the venue.
Heswall councillor Andrew Hodson has also made a representation to the panel, supporting the residents. Hydes Brewery also needs to gain planning permission from the council before it can open the new venue. Its application is currently being considered by the local authority.
The company’s planning statement claims 35 new jobs will be brought to the town as part of its proposal. Making the case for the plan, the statement added: “Such development is to be supported and welcomed at a time when many pubs are closing and being lost as a result of not being viable.”
The company believes its plan will “make a positive contribution to the street scene and vibrancy of the town centre”. The premises will be used as a public house and a restaurant, serving food and alcohol.
If the plan is approved by Wirral Council, it will see a building which has been empty for several years brought back into use. The applicant also submitted a design and access statement which pointed to the number of premises which are used for similar purposes in the area.
The statement noted there are several bars and restaurants to the west of the site, including Gusto, Barton Rouge, Franklyn's and Silk Road. If approved, the pub/restaurant will reclaim the car park which is currently used by Marks and Spencer, but part of the police station site.
At the moment, it provides 18 spaces, but Hydes Brewery wants to extend it to provide 27 parking spaces including two disabled spaces. Last year, it was reported the landmark building on Telegraph Road in Heswall, Wirral, was on sale through Eddisons and has been ready for a developer to snap up for seven years.
Eddisons described the property as a "part single, part two storey building of traditional brick construction built in 1911". In 2014, Merseyside Police announced plans to close Heswall, Hoylake, Moreton, Well Lane and Laird Street stations and replace them with community stations in community centres and libraries.
At the time, the then Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, Jane Kennedy, said the proceeds of the sales would help pay for new alternatives. She said: "Austerity measures have resulted in Merseyside Police losing over 1,600 officers and staff since 2010. Although we have had a reprieve from further cuts, I want to improve the access to the police. Too many of our old stations are empty or very underutilised.
"Most importantly, all of the local stations are closed to the public. Local people gave me their backing to replace them with modern, fit-for-purpose community police stations in already established libraries and community centres. The sale of the old buildings will help to pay for the new ones.
"By selling these old stations, we will be able to generate much-needed income for Merseyside Police while also decreasing our annual running costs. This means as much money as possible can be directed to keeping officers where people want to see them, out on our streets."
