The pressure was on Telford & Wrekin plans board last night to turn down controversial proposals to turn Wellington’s 17th century Charlton Arms - the town’s once overwhelmingly popular “civic” hotel - into flats.
Public figures this week lined up to support the council’s officers, who were recommending the redevelopment scheme be rejected.
The Charlton, a Grade 2 listed building in Church Street, was once the town’s flagship hotel, base for public organisations and favourite for dinner dances, wedding receptions and civic functions.
It is currently boarded up after a fire in 2006.
Liverpool-based developers Nextdom - which is run by the hotel’s owner Aoife O’Brien - want to turn it into flats, a proposal which has aroused huge protest.
But now they may be refused planning permission - because they cannot prove that a hotel there is not a viable business.
Telford & Wrekin planning officers say the flats scheme is acceptable in pure planning terms but the “dominant issue” was the council’s official policy to resist proposals involving the loss of land or buildings used for the benefit of the community.
And although Nextdom has provided evidence to justify its claims, officers do not believe it has proved its case.
“The applicant has failed to provide sufficient evidence that the restoration and subsequent use of the Charlton Arms as a hotel, public house or other form of community facility would be financially unviable,” officers said in a report.
Demand
“Furthermore, the applicant has failed to undertake a marketing exercise for a minimum of 12 months to establish there is no demand for the future use of the premises as a community facility.”
But Ms O’Brien insisted to the Journal this week: “The Charlton Arms is not commercially viable as a hotel and that can be proved, not through us, but through the previous owners, who went into administration.”
Wellington Civic Society, Wellington Town Council and the Chamber of Commerce are all calling for the Charlton to be re-opened.
David Riley from the Chamber, said: “I think the Charlton Arms Hotel is one of Wellington’s most iconic landmark buildings. It has meant a great deal to people in Wellington and Telford.
“I’m absolutely convinced that the Charlton Arms could once again be used as a hotel, perhaps if it were reinvented as a quality boutique hotel and wine bar.”
Councillor Gary Davies said he hoped planning permission would be refused. He said: “The Charlton Arms Hotel does not need to be changed or demolished in any shape or form.
“It is just unbelievable that it can be said there is not a market for the Charlton Arms. The town is crying out for the Charlton Arms Hotel and in fact business in Wellington has started to go down because of its closure.
“I hope councillors will see that if they did go against the recommendation to refuse it, they would be closing one of the largest books of history in Wellington.”
Nextdom wants to bulldoze the 60s and 70s extensions to the Charlton and build 42 flats, claiming there is no market to support it as a hotel.
