By BRIAN TILLEY

Last updated 17:35, Thursday, 21 August 2008

OBJECTORS have failed in their bid to prevent a major redevelopment of a village pub which has been closed for several months.

Tynedale Council’s development control committee has given the go-ahead for a two-storey extension at the Duke of Wellington pub at Newton, near Corbridge.

The development would create dining facilities for more than 100 additional customers, with an enlarged kitchen and seven en suite guest bedrooms, along with an outdoor terrace and beer garden.

A total of 56 diners would be accommodated in the extension, with another 44 on the terrace, and 16 in the beer garden.

Due to the fall in ground levels, it was proposed to create staff accommodation under the terrace, which would also house a kitchen storage area and a plant room.

The car park would also be resurfaced and formalised to create 30 parking bays, and a fenced LPG compound.

The proposals – which have already been amended on a number of occasions – have appalled Bywell Parish Council, which has lodged a series of objections.

While the parish council welcomed the re-establishment of the pub for its employment opportunities and potential fillip for other businesses, it felt the nature of the development was disproportionate, given the size of the site, and the nature and fabric of the village, which is a designated conservation area.

The council also feared there would be an unacceptable increase in noise, congestion and traffic problems.

There was serious concern for residents of The Forge, a small development close to the pub.

The parish council feared they would be badly affected by loss of views and openness, noise and leakage of cooking smells.

There were also major concerns about car parking, with the parish council concerned that the car park would be unable to cope with the numbers attracted to the pub.

The council said: “The village street is already congested with the vehicles of residents.

“An increase in the volume of traffic will result in increased danger for pedestrians, children and animals.”

There was also a suggestion that the village sewerage system would struggle to cope with the extra load.

There were 12 letters and a petition objecting to the proposals from local residents, but these were counter balanced by seven letters supporting the scheme.

Supporters welcomed the fact that the proposals put forward by landlord Robert Harris would breathe new life in to the village and complement facilities at the new village hall.

One wrote: “We admire Robert Harris for taking on this project, and wish him every success in reviving the inn.

“We hope it will once more become the thriving hostelry it was in the 1960s and 70s.”

Another wrote: “The applicant is a long-term resident if Newton, and is likely to develop the public house business in a manner sympathetic to the local community.”

In his assessment of the application, planning officer Graeme Robbie said in a report that the development would be in line with the council’s strategy to support tourist facilities in the district.

He said: “The proposal seeks to draw on the traditional role of the country inn to provide accommodation to assist in the diversification of the existing pub business, and to respond to the impact of drink-driving laws on isolated pubs by providing catering as well as drinking facilities.”

He accepted there could be some loss of amenity, and some noise and smell issues, but they were not sufficient to warrant refusal.

He also noted that the highways authority had no objections.