RESIDENTS protesting against controversial plans to build a convenience store on a Wordsley pub car park have met with the project developers.

Plans for a Co-operative store to be built on the car park of The Ashwood Inn have been submitted to Dudley Council by NewRiver Retail.

The London-based firm have been the owners of the pub since buying it from Marston's and have plans to build convenience stores at 11 pubs across Dudley borough.

However, a group of Wordsley residents, including ward councillors Paul Brothwood and Derrick Hemingsley, have raised concerns regarding the plans and arranged a face-to-face meeting with the developers.

Cllr Brothwood, leader of Dudley's UKIP Group, said: “We met with members of the retail group to discuss their plans and put forward many concerns which were raised at our residents meeting.

“One of the main concerns from our point of view was around the lack of car parking spaces the pub will have if the convenience store is built.

“There would only be 14 parking spaces left, but on the numerous occasions that the pub holds functions, all the current spaces are already fully taken.

“There are also strong feelings about whether there is a genuine need for another supermarket, as there is already a Spar and a Sainsbury’s within a mile of the pub.

“But they [NewRiver Retail] answered our 36 questions very well and put on a very detailed presentation.”

Another concern raised by the residents, was the impact the store would have on the shopping parade opposite the pub in Sandringham Place.

A spokesman for NewRiver Retail said: “We found it very useful to meet with local residents as we were able to respond to a whole series of questions.

“The licensee of the pub is supportive of these plans as he sees them as offering the opportunity of more visitors to the site.

“Elsewhere, proposals of this kind have created a 'community hub' which has benefitted trade in public houses.

“It was clear that one of the biggest concerns related to the run-down parade of shops immediately opposite the site.

“We agreed with residents that this was a bit of local eyesore but unfortunately it is not within our ownership. We are hopeful though that the introduction of a new high quality convenience store will mean that the parade can be improved in the future.”

Cllr Brothwood said the new convenience store would take trade away from the existing shops and “force them" to close.

He added: “If this happens, it would mean instead of three derelict shops, we will have a whole row of them.”

Another meeting open to all residents is now being planned by the residents and councillors who met with NewRiver Retail.