BUILDING work is set to begin on a controversial £1.5m family restaurant in Wychbold.

The Brewers Fayre pub, to be named the Sunnyside, is being built on the site of Wychall Cottage, Worcester Road, and is scheduled to open in April 2005.

The application for the family pub and restaurant was originally turned down by Wychavon District Council but, after an appeal in April, was finally granted by The Planning Inspectorate, much to the anger of local residents and councillors.

District Councillor Judy Pearce has been against the pub proposal since the original application because she fears the new development will bring extra traffic to the village.

"This development has been allowed to go ahead despite the wishes of local villagers. We do not want or need another pub in the village," she said.

Take trade away

"This is not a pub for the local people but one to entice people off the motorway and will lead to increased traffic, making it more difficult for people using the village shop and will also take trade away from the lovely pubs we already have in the village.

"It's very sad this is going ahead despite all our best efforts."

But owners of the pub, Whitbread Plc and Design Site Ltd say it will be a benefit to the village, creating 40 new jobs.

"We're very excited about the new opening," said business development manager Dave Langley. "We look forward to serving the nation's favourite pub food to the locals and passing trade of Droitwich."

The pub and restaurant will have 180 seats with a modern, light and airy design.

"The restaurant will benefit from 'comfort cooling' and, as with all recent developments, Whitbread adopt a no smoking policy in their dining areas," he said. "This has proved extremely successful and has received very positive feedback from customers."