Keswick councillors are again opposing plans to turn a staff car park at the side of the town’s biggest pub into a beer garden.
Pub giant Wetherspoon is seeking permission for the permanent change of use outside the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in Bank Street.
Earlier this year, Allerdale Borough Council granted temporary permission for a beer garden to open there until 8pm every day during the summer to the end of this month under special COVID-19 powers following the first government-imposed closure of all pubs.
This was despite a previous permanent planning application having been opposed by Keswick Town Council and turned down by the Lake District National Park Authority, whose decision was upheld at a public inquiry last year.
“We are dead right to object,” said Keswick’s deputy mayor David Burn when Wetherspoon’s latest planning application came before the town council for comment last week.
However, he admitted that opponents of the open-air facility had less chance of winning this time because there had been fewer complaints during its temporary opening, which expires on Tuesday.
“We need to support the locals on this one,” he added, referring to people living nearby, including some guesthouse owners, who had complained that a beer garden at Wetherspoons would increase noise and disturbance.
“Concerns had also been expressed about the loss of car parking spaces. Mr Burn said the principle remained unchanged.
The pub plan was among a string of applications which the town council objected to during its virtual meeting.
They included:
- Building a single-storey extension and porch to create an additional two bedrooms and bathroom at 19 Grizedale Avenue.
- A two-storey extension at 44 Trinity Way.
- The demolition of a conservatory and porch for internal alterations and a three-storey extension at 26, Heads Road, Keswick.
However, councillors did support an outline plan to convert a row of lock-up garages in Penrith Road into houses.
