Mixed reaction to pub plan

A plan to reopen a pub alongside new housing and a shop has received a mixed reaction from villagers.

The plans would see a smaller Crown pub in Martley remain next to new shop and office space with five new homes built on part of the car park.

Both supportive comments and objections have been raised by residents in Martley during public consultation.

One resident who has lived in Hillside for 12 years supported the plan saying the plans provided much needed retail space and a “reasonable” number of homes.

“The large car park has been historically used by people in the village to park for the shop – due to the shop providing insufficient parking – but it is too large to service the pub and could be put to much better use,” the supportive comment said.

“The amount of green space on the site looks to have been maximised, with an appropriate flood response.

“The pub does not work in its current form and I feel development is not unreasonable in getting the pub opened again.”

Another resident in St Peter’s Drive, who supported the plans, said: “I live in the houses behind the pub, and it would be lovely to have the pub back open and a cafe or retail store.

“There are many visitors that come to Martley and this would be ideal suiting for everyone’s needs as well as the people that live here.

“The five houses is just enough without any overcrowding of the site for more family’s moving to Martley.”

One objection from a resident in Mortlake Drive said the empty pub had made the site an “eyesore” and more homes would not make it any more attractive.

“The site was an attractive part of the village and is now an eye sore,” the objection said.

An existing first floor four-bed flat above the pub would be reduced in size with one two-bed and one three-bed flat built to the rear.

The pub closed in 2017, having only reopened for 12 months after a significant and expensive refurbishment, and has remained empty since.

More than 20 objections have already been raised against the plan by residents in Martley with villagers saying the pub was an important part of the community and the village did not need more housing.

The plans can be viewed via the planning section of Malvern Hills District Council’s website.

The application number is 21/00102/FUL.

Public consultation ends on May 27.