Popular local West Windsor pub, the Black Horse, is to be denied planning consent to build two houses in its car park.
Punch Taverns recently submitted a planning application (17/00593/FULL ) to build two houses in the car park of the busy, and popular, local public house, the Black Horse.
RBWM’s Principal Planning Officer, Alex Jelley, today indicated that it was his “intention to recommend refusal of the application on the grounds of having a detrimental impact on the character of the area through an unsuitable design.”
Concerns of local residents
The Black Horse is now the only community pub in the area.
West Windsor residents and members have many concerns about the proposed development which centre around 6 main points
- Increased traffic congestion on nearby roads including Gallys Road, Dedworth Road and, Pierson Road
- An increased risk of minor road accidents
- A substantial loss of amenity for neighbouring properties
- A substantial loss of amenity for local residents
- A substantial loss of amenity for users of the public house and its facilities and,
- The development of a visually unpleasant building out of character with the Gallys Road streetscene
Given the concerns of many local residents as to the effect on parking, traffic congestion, traffic accidents, and the street scene (the design of proposed housing is considered discordant with home on Gallys Road), on behalf of the WWRA, Chairman, Kevin Chapman submitted an “Objection to development 17/00593/FULL on the Black Horse land at 290 Dedworth Road” – click here to read our submission in full.
The Black Horse is now the only community pub in the area.
Following Mr Jelley’s comments, local residents and, users of the excellent Black Horse pub, breathed a sigh or relief, for now.
However, one Black Horse regular adamantly stated that, “if the Black Horse closes, I will leave West Windsor”
Good news for now
To re-iterate, RBWM’s Principal Planning Officer, Alex Jelley, today indicated that it was his “intention to recommend refusal of the application on the grounds of having a detrimental impact on the character of the area through an unsuitable design.”
He went on to say that the applicant will now be given “the opportunity to withdraw the application. Failure to do so will result in a refusal under delegated powers.”
So, good news for now. However…
fears…eventually demolish the Black Horse and develop the site
Fears for the future
There are also fears locally that Punch Taverns, who now apparently also own the site of the Queen Public House, intend to eventually demolish the Black Horse and develop the site for housing; possibly re-opening the smaller Queen, which has far more limited facilities and parking.
The quest for a better Windsor goes on – join us
The WWRA is very pleased with the indicated outcome but, we see no reason for complacency in the quest for a better Windsor, for all.
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