VILLAGERS near a popular country pub have raised concerns about a planned renovation over fears it will create more noise and add to parking problems.
Major brewers Greene King have revealed plans to refurbish the Crown Inn in Hallow near Worcester including a bigger bar and toilets as well as to transform the garden and outdoor seating areas with a new covered pergola and pods for alfresco dining.
Dozens of objections have been raised by neighbours in Hallow including by one couple, who have lived near to the pub for 33 years, who say “enough is enough” over the planned expansion to the garden and outdoor facilities.
Villagers in Hallow have also said the proposed renovation and extra tables will bring more cars to the pub that the car park does not have space for.
“A concern would be parking,” one objector said to Malvern Hills District Council.
“It was noted generally that the car park would always be full, so with the additional capacity, where will cars park?
“The lane adjacent to the pub is private, and the car parking spaces for the Parish Hall are used by people attending the recreational area, park and playing fields, never mind the pre-school children that attend the Parish Hall.”
Another resident in Hallow said: “I live behind the Crown Inn and to date the noise and light pollution from the pub has been minimised by the location of the tables and chairs being close to the pub and away from the houses.
“This proposal seeks to change this and locate tables and chairs and therefore people too close to our property.
“This change will increase the noise levels and, with all the additional lighting, change our dark sky village.”
Plans for the pub also include a new extension to the back of the grade II-listed pub to house the expanded bar and provide space for 29 more covers with the pub’s outdoor bar demolished and a large Manna Ash tree cut down to make way for the proposed work.
Outdoor seating will be moved to a different part of the pub’s garden with new hedges and fencing put in place.
The Crown Inn was run by Will and Sacha Donaldson for more than a decade but the lease, which ran out in February, was not renewed by landlords Greene King which decided to move ahead with its own renovation plans.
The couple said they had fought the decision with their solicitors but was left with little to do as it was Greene King which had the final say over the renewal of the lease. The pub went through a significant refurbishment and rebrand - including the appointment of a new head chef - in 2017.
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