The Arcade, Upper Gornal: New micro bar plan

A former hardware shop at 9, The Arcade, looks set to be converted into a micro-bar serving alcohol, other drinks and cold food.

The shop has a two-storey residential unit above with a balcony and is part of the Arcade, a 60s-built local centre, which features a Tesco Express.

The former Stripey Oss Paints Sundries and Home Decor unit will be converted

There is already a café, hot food takeaway, barbers, hairdressers, betting shop, newsagents, pharmacy, opticians, dentist and charity shop and parking accessed via Kent Street.

One objection was received from 3 The Arcade, raising concerns that the bar would lead to anti-social behaviour causing shoppers such as the elderly and children to feel unsafe, littering by customers and the Arcade being a ‘no-drinking’ area with no-drinking signs displayed.

Notes by planners state an outside seating/smoking area would be created for customers.

The proposed opening hours are from 2pm till 10.30pm Mondays to Fridays and from 1.30pm till 11pm on Saturdays and from 1.30pm to 10pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Council planners approved the application saying: "The bar would be open during day-time hours and into the evening until 23:00 at the latest.

"The Council Environmental Safety and Health Officer does not object to this and suggests a condition restricting the hours of operation to those requested by the applicant.

"Subject to the above-mentioned condition, it is not considered that the proposed use would have any detrimental impact on the amenity of surrounding residential occupiers in the vicinity.

"The use is appropriate for a centre location such as this and the proposal accords with local and national planning policy."

The report notes that sound insulation will be required between the micro bar and the residential units above as part of the building control application and a premises licence will also need to be applied for but "these are not planning matters"

The application was approved on June 14.