Pub could still become flats

A former pub could still be converted into flats despite concerns about parking.

The plan, which would see the Garibaldi Inn in Bromyard Road, extended and converted into six flats will be discussed by Worcester councillors next week.

A report by the city council’s planning officers has recommended the plan is approved despite a strong objection from the county’s highways department over the lack of parking spaces.

Worcestershire County Council said at least eight spaces would be needed before it was comfortable with allowing the work to go ahead but only three have been proposed.

In spite of the concerns of highways officers, the city council has said the plan should be given the go-ahead, as they did last year, when the planning committee meets in the Guildhall on Thursday (July 22).

Comments made by the county council’s highways department said there was no room in surrounding streets to make up for a shortfall of five parking spaces.

“Parking spaces are at a premium on Knight Street and the neighbouring residential roads and parking on Bromyard Road which is a principal route of local importance and a main bus route into the city centre, is not to be welcomed,” the objection said.

Officers have said the plan is acceptable as new flats would create less traffic and parking issues than if the building remained as a pub.

The first plan to convert the former pub into seven flats was rejected in July last year by the council’s planning officers over concerns it would add to parking problems in surrounding streets.

When the plan was put back on the table in December and reduced by one flat to six, the council’s planning committee then decided to delay a decision with parking problems remaining a contentious issue.

St John’s councillor Richard Udall said he, and most residents, had accepted that the building would most likely never be a pub again but felt six flats was too many and would add to parking problems in the area.

He said six flats was “considerable over-occupation” of the site and four would be more suitable.