Indian restaurant plans for historic Willenhall pub unveiled
Fresh plans have been submitted to develop a vacant locally listed pub in Willenhall.
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Applicant Bai Investments Ltd has outlined its proposal to convert The Bridge Tavern into an Indian restaurant.
The Short Heath pub, located on the corner of Bentley Lane and High Road, closed to the public in 2023. Plans were submitted in February last year to convert the non-designated heritage asset into a convenience store.
Short Heath ward councillor Josh Whitehouse launched a petition against the plans which was signed by over 600 people. The petition said it was the ‘wrong place for another shop’ due to the busy junction.
In June 2024 it was scheduled to be decided at a Walsall Council planning committee, with planning officers recommending a refusal, but the applicant withdrew the proposals just before the meeting. The following month, the pub was defaced as racist slurs were spray painted onto the front of the building.
The Short Heath councillors were ‘saddened’ by the acts and said racism has ‘no place’ in the ward.
The latest proposals involve a rear ground floor extension, the installation of two new external doors, and the removal of internal walls. The existing site has 13 car parking spaces to the rear which will remain the same should the new plans go ahead.
