Planners say No to Wro over extending hours (From Wirral Globe)

Planners say No to Wro over extending hours

11:36am Friday 24th August 2012 in News By Geoff Barnes

AN award-winning West Kirby bar has lost its fight to extend week-end operating hours following fierce local opposition.

The Wro – quadruple winners of the accolade Wirral’s Most Professional Bar Team – had applied to Wirral planning authority to stay open until half-past midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Councillors voted – on a split decision – to refuse the application.

Planning chairwoman Cllr Bernie Mooney said the committee had split 6-5, after a lively discussion, in favour of a planners’ recommendation to reject the proposal.

Objections from people living in Riversdale Court, Dee Lane and Riversdale Road – claiming that extended hours would cause more noise later at night and seriously damage residents’ quality of life – were countered by a 650-name petition pointing to the economic benefits created by The Wro, including the provision of 60 jobs and the “positive impact the business had on the vibrancy and character of West Kirby.”

A report from planners acknowledged that The Wro, in Grange Road, was professionally-run and acknowledged its significant contribution economically to the town.

But, said the report, it was considered that the proposed extension into the early hours would generate excessive noise to the detriment of residential amenity.

Recommending refusal of the application to extend opening hours, planners commented: “Concern remains that granting permission would increase the potential for noise and general disturbance at times when residents should expect higher levels of amenity.”