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Will planned restaurant lead to rats and parking chaos?

9:50am Friday 12th March 2010 in


AN empty car showroom in Worcester could be turned into a restaurant serving traditional English food.

The proposals to transform the disused Jaguar House showroom in Castle Street into a restaurant could create 22 jobs.

But residents living nearby are worried about customers clogging up side streets with parked cars, increased noise levels, anti-social behaviour and waste attracting vermin.

The plans show the proposed restaurant could cater for more than 100 customers at any one time but only one parking space will be provided. Customers will be expected to leave their vehicles in nearby car parks at Worcester Racecourse and off Croft Road.

Some residents say people will try and park in Easy Row and other side streets unless a parking scheme is introduced.

Many also question the need for another restuarant in that location given the fact that Ostlers in Severn Terrace is already established and a café is due to open as part of the University of Worcester’s refurbishment of the old hospital site in Castle Street.

Several letters of objection from people living in Severn Terrace and Hamilton Square have already been sent to Worcester City Council’s planners.

Max Nightingale, of Severn Terrace, said in his letter: “Parking in the street is already under strain and should be turned over to residential parking only.

“There will be an increased risk that the storage of waste food and other materials outside the development will attract vermin scavenging for food.”

James Jester, whose Severn Terrace home is next to the showroom, wrote: “Living next to the property, I have concerns with the noise levels generated by customers smoking outside and leaving at 11.30pm.

“It seems the applicant is aware there will be high noise levels because of the planting of trees to screen it. When this becomes effective I will lose daylight from my property.”

While this proposal is to set up an independent restaurant, some people are concerned that granting permission for that could lead to a big chain taking it over in the future. Others are worried about the building being turned into a late-night bar or club.

The proposal has been submitted by Stephen Castledine, of Malvern, but he was unavailable for comment.

Comments(18)

lilboo says...
9:59am Fri 12 Mar 10

Oh for heaven's sake, just what would the residents like there, or a redundant building slap bang on the riverside attracting anti-social behaviour and looking ugly or something that will enhance an important tourist area of the City. When the Uni campus opens the owners will be very busy I should imagine!

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worcwisdom says...
10:00am Fri 12 Mar 10

Why are people worried about parking. Most restaurants in Worcester don't have a car park. This particular restaurant is right next to a large pay and display which is not well used in the evenings any way. I wonder if these residents campaign against the Swan Theater, the Beer Festival and the fair ground too?

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MrStJohns says...
10:03am Fri 12 Mar 10

The march of the nimby’s continues, I would imagine people using the restaurant would mostly be on foot as is currently the case with the wonderful Ostlers. The excuses given are pretty weak in all fairness, extra pressure on the sewage system, well surely if any occupant of easy row had a curry the night before that would have the same effect. Its great that someone wants to invest, create more jobs and a new facility for the residents of that area and Worcester as a whole. This isn’t really a new application either as the applicants withdrew the previous one, and changed it to appease the residents and they still complain.

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Tulstar says...
10:13am Fri 12 Mar 10

AAAAAAARRGH!!!!!! Why do people feel the need to whinge and moan about absolutely everything!
.
Hmmmm, disused building or restaurant..?? It's great news that the building is going to be used and it's in a great location for a restaurant. I hardly think that it'll attract anti-social behaviour. There's already one restaurant right opposite where this one is going to open, and there don't seem to be any problems with that.
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For gods sake, stop moaning and just be happy at the fact that you now have another restaurant to choose from, instead of an empty old car showroom!!

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skychip says...
10:44am Fri 12 Mar 10

Free car parking in the evening would encourage more people to go to restaurants. Two new restaurants in the last two days for Worcester - we already have plenty of choice, but something different is always worth a try.

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MrStJohns says...
10:48am Fri 12 Mar 10

What’s the other new one sky chip? I agree though more choice is always preferable. There’s also that new polish restaurant in the old paul pry pub, we tried it recently and the food is very nice indeed.
I think as tulstar mentioned free parking would be great but how could it be policed so as people didn’t just leave cars there all weekend.

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Tulstar says...
11:12am Fri 12 Mar 10

Perhaps there could be a pay and display style machine, which issues a ticket that grants free parking for a certain period of time in the evenings?

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Hawlev says...
11:13am Fri 12 Mar 10

What is the problem? There is a carpark nearby, they will have bins etc. and this is a restaurant not a nightclub. I think its a great idea, we have plenty of takeaways etc. which are great it will be nice to be able to go somewhere which serves English Food. I promise when I go here I will park on the pay and display carpark, not shout, scream or throwup when leaving and not leave any rubbish lying around. We mustn't stop people trying to start a business and become a success, with things as they are every new job created counts. Good Luck.

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Ze_Truth says...
11:31am Fri 12 Mar 10

It's not another KFC or McDonalds. The attract waste and vermin coz of packaging but generally when you go into a restaurant and eat off a plate you don't take it outside and chuck it on the floor. Unless you're Greek of course! With the influx of foreign cuisine, we should be proud that someone's planning to open up a proper British restaurant in Worcester.

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skychip says...
11:39am Fri 12 Mar 10

n reply to Mr.St John's, the other one is the old library at Warndon which I believe is going to be a Pizza Hut.

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MrStJohns says...
11:47am Fri 12 Mar 10

Ah yes, I recall yesterdays article, well that’s 3 then, this one, if the planners let it pass and don’t get bogged down in nimby land, then the new polish one in the paul pry and also the one youv mentioned. I think per person Worcester must have an almost 1:1 Ratio of residents to restaurants to eat in.

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disbelief says...
12:21pm Fri 12 Mar 10

Altogether now NIMBYS left right left right....and keep marching right out of this city.We do not need narrow minded people here.

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rgdudley says...
1:15pm Fri 12 Mar 10

A restaurant would be good, as others have said there's plenty of parking on pitchcroft, croft road and the cattle market.

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Lucy Lockett says...
2:58pm Fri 12 Mar 10

It is a pity, people have to search for worst case scenario excuses, to prevent, what could be a great asset to the city, for us residents, visitors to pitch croft and students at the university.
I choose to live in the centre of Worcester, because I enjoy City life, and the variety of eating establishments available. I am always eager to try out new restaurants, and feel that this particular area of the city, satiated with Curry Houses, could really profit from offering something new.
It is to be applauded, that people in today’s economic market, are still pursuing new ventures, and much needed new jobs to be made available.
With a police Station a few paces away, I would doubt, Anti-Social behaviour will be an Issue.
Surely a restaurant, on one of the incoming roads into the city, would be a big improvement on a disused, empty car show room?
As to parking, It is quicker for me to walk, so I will leave my car at home, I promise!!

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mauro balbino says...
4:35pm Fri 12 Mar 10

I will bring my voice here to echoe all comentators here: there is no logistic reason (park & waste), to justify denial or further concerns.
And Traditional Food is always welcome and an English restaurant will be always an asset.
I'm looking forward to check it :)

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Maggie Would says...
4:51pm Fri 12 Mar 10

English food? That'll be pizza, chicken tikka masala & doner kebab, then?

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Mr Berry says...
7:02pm Fri 12 Mar 10

Just what we need I say! Some proper restaurant near the Racecourse ground. I personally like my curries but many guests who visit this city would like to try something else during their stay (apart from Curry or Italian food). And that location would be ideal as it is near Foregate Street Station, Racecourse Ground even cricket ground.

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Andy_R says...
9:44am Sat 13 Mar 10

In reply to Skychip, Warndon already has a Pizza Hut, near the Tesco Express. The library in Cranham Drive will be a non-chain pizza shop.

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