ePetition details

We feel that the proposal to convert a retail premises into an A4 wine bar that covers 3 whole floors with no residential parts and no office parts would be wholly unsuitable for Ware, especially in an area where there are so many residential properties that will undoubtedly suffer from noise nuisance and public safety concerns.

We feel that the landlords cannot guarantee what type of use it would have as they have not found a leasee for the building yet and we are concerned for a nightclub spanning 3 floors being opened masquerading as a wine bar. Whilst we appreciate the landlords would like the building to be let quickly with minimal expense to themselves we do not feel this should be a reason for granting a change of use to another drinking establishment on West Street especially in a historic and important building. At present no conversion plans have been submitted and we are concerned that the building will be converted unsympathetically and without using the materials required to protect both the residents and the current atmosher of the conservation area it is sited in.

We do not feel the justification that no other alternative is available is based on truth rather on wanting to make a profit quickly and we do not see why this should be made the problem of the residents in West Street and Tudor Square, who should be entitled to peaceful enjoyment of their homes. The building nicely lends itself to a conversion into residential properties such as those just converted in Church Street. It could easily remain a smaller retail premises/restaurant/bar with flats on top, or serviced offices, a dance school, gym, art gallery, nursery, b and b for the priory wedding guests, to name a few. All of which would be better suited to a listed building residing in a conservation area and result in better maintenance and preservation of the buildings historic features.

Whilst some of these would take longer and be more expensive to achieve we feel they would be far more suitable to Ware than a nightclub/split level wine bar. We feel there are proven historic examples that this kind of establishment in Ware Town increases crime, increases noise nuisance for the residents and poses a higher risk to public safety, especially to children and young adults. We dont see how East Herts council can fairly allow either of these to be put not more than 10 meters from residential front doors on a road which already has 3 drinking establishments and the area is already struggling with crime, safety and noise issues.

We do not feel it is our fault that the landlords are unwilling to sell to residential developers or our fault if they cannot afford to convert to something else themselves. They have been ridiculously lucky with the length of time the bridal shop has been there without having to outlay anything and we feel they should have made financial allowances for their departure.

It would be sorely disappointing for us to see the charm and charisma and welcome provided by Ware's many small and independent venues once again ruined by the council allowing a commercial business to open an inappropriate venue in the town without fully considering the issues this kind of change would impose on the residents, local small businesses and safety of the towns visitors.

We have long been a town know for great hospitality, however this kind of venue would be a blight on our towns reputation.

The residents of West Street, Church Street, Tudor Square and the High Street would all have their properties de-valued and their lives would be made even more difficult by allowing this application. Allowing the application to go through would be condemning them all to owning or living in fundamentally uninhabitable properties beset with noise issues and surrounded by more public nuisance issues than can they should be reasonably asked to cope with. We think it is also important you show your support for the smaller drinkin

This ePetition ran from 26/01/2018 to 31/03/2018 and has now finished.

3 people signed this ePetition.