CAMPAIGNERS have teamed up to battle plans to build a new Co-op store on the car park of a listed Kingswinford pub.

Councillor Dave Tyler and Natasha Millward, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Dudley South, have taken up the fight on behalf of pub landlady Coral Smith, of The Old Court House after the News revealed details of NewRiver Retail's plan to build convenience stores on a number of pub car parks across the borough - plus plans to demolish some old boozers entirely.

The concerned campaigners say a new convenience store would cut community car parking spaces in half, cause traffic chaos on the busy Dudley Road outside and threaten the future of the popular grade II listed pub.

Labour’s Natasha Millward said: “I’m shocked that another cherished community pub is at risk due to this misguided and unfair proposal by NewRiver Retail.

“Pubs like The Old Court House are the beating heart of Dudley, and residents won’t stand by while big business brings in the builders and risks their future.”

Landlady Coral Smith said: “We’ve built The Old Court House from the ground up in five years, bringing back regulars by serving up Sunday meals and providing a friendly atmosphere for families.”

“This proposal will only bring costly chaos to our front door. Car parking space will halved, residents will suffer from the endless building works, and traffic and accessibility will be worse than ever.”

Councillor Dave Tyler said: "Companies that come into Kingswinford have to recognise the importance of listed buildings like The Old Court House and need to put our community before profit.

“The campaign starts today to make the developers see sense, and we will do all that we can in our power to brew a win for local people.”

Kingswinford councillor Patrick Harley branded the plan "ridiculous" and added: "If they do this it will take away half the car park - where are customers going to park?"

In a document leaked to the News last week - it was confirmed NewRiver Retail Ltd has been working on plans to redevelop a number of borough pub sites and that The Co-operative Food has signed an agreement to lease 11 pub sites from Marston's Plc.

Of those - new Co-op stores have been proposed for the car parks of: The Hare & Hounds, Wollescote; The Bridge Inn, Kingswinford; The Ashwood Inn, Wordsley' and The Crown at Netherton.

NewRiver also wants to bulldoze The Bird in Hand in Oldswinford, Stourbridge; The Round of Beef in Cradley; The Fiddlers Arms in Lower Gornal; The Maypole in Halesowen; and The Summerhouse at Woodsetton.

It also outlined plans to convert the Hasbury Inn, Hagley Road, Halesowen, into a Co-op.

NewRiver confirmed it acquired a number of pubs in late 2013 from Marston's Plc and a spokesman said all the plans were all in the pre-application stage and that members of the community would be kept informed.

No planning applications have yet been finalised or submitted.

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