A local residents group in Cowes is opposing the proposed plans to turn the town’s Methodist Church into a restaurant.
The Trustees of Methodist Church are planning to sell their church on Birmingham Road in Cowes, to Loungers PLC, a large hospitality company who plan to turn the church into a restaurant/bar open 7 days a week from 08:00 to 23:00 and midnight on weekends.
A growing group of 40+ residents oppose the plans and hope that the Methodist Church will reconsider its decision to sell to Loungers.
Local residents are against the use of the old church as a restaurant/bar on the basis of the general unsuitability of the building and:
- Worsening the already poor parking situation in a predominately residential area
- Increasing traffic in the surrounding residential roads from deliveries, staff and customers
- The noise created by the operation of a large industrial style indoor and outdoor chain restaurant operation
It appears that there is a Restrictive Covenant on the land which complicates Loungers’ plans. David Millar, a local resident, says:
“When Mrs Harriet Beckford, the widowed daughter of George Ward of Northwood House died in 1887, instructions were given to sell her Westhill Road Estate, which the church was subsequently built on.
“This covenant, amongst other restrictions banned the sale of “intoxicating liquor of any kind”, and also any trade which may be a nuisance or annoyance to any adjoining owners or to the neighbourhood. I don’t know how the restaurant can go ahead on that basis.”
The Methodist Church have said in the past, when premises were sold off, bids for community use should be prioritised. This is also the policy of the Isle of Wight as defined in its DM7 of the Island Plan. Whilst it was only marketed for a relatively short time (4 months), residents know of at least one community use bid.
Neighbours are in favour of keeping it for the benefit of the community. They also are surprised that, given the Methodist Church does not favour the widespread consumption of alcohol, and forbids its use or sale in their premises, that it plans to sell one of its churches for that express purpose.
Westhill Road local, Dave Ross, said:
“Loungers look like a perfectly good chain company, and I can see why their Correo Lounge in Newport is popular, but it just isn’t right for the Methodist Church site. It sits outside of the Town Centre boundary, with residential properties all around it, and there is already enormous pressure on parking around there.
“We would much rather see this beautiful building put into community use. I know of at least one credible bid which would have done this, but sadly the Trustees of the Church seem to be favouring Loungers.
“We hope it isn’t too late and a number of us have written to the Church in the hope that it would consider something which is more in line with its values. Several of us have also contacted Richard Quigley for his support in his capacity as local MP and Ward Councillor.”
The deadline for comments on the planning application is 25th October.
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Watch out. Here comes the pitchfork brigade. Legions of NIMBYs that would prefer the building to go to ruin and crumble, rather than turn it into a business offering food, drinks, pleasurable times and employment. Lots of talk of keeping it for community use, but I bet none of them is doing anything to make this happen (other than writing to their MP for support).
Such certainty from behind your keyboard! Shame everything you have just said is incorrect.
Very well said. Making the Island as boring and stale as possible. Heaven forbid anyone should want to turn it into a venue where people can have fun.
So leave it empty then ? that’s great hardly residensial around there..
Come up with the market value of the property and you may be taken half seriously, theybare plenty of properties in cowes that be considered community use,Indistrial scale venue, get real its going to be a bar not the O2.
Great out of the pub into the takeaway. No more noisy Christians singing out of key .it will still be a meeting place with water that’s been turned into wine. It’s a commercial only metes from a pub in a commercial road on a busy ferry route ( when it’s running )
I supported finding a relevant use for this attractive building a couple of weeks ago and I got some pretty unpleasant abuse for it. I think that it would make a great pub restaurant, and I would happily be a neighbour.
Is there a group for those of who SUPPORT the idea of it becoming part of the Loungers establishments?! Myself & everyone I know thinks it’s a great idea & are looking forward to it being here in Cowes. It’s not a loud & annoying place, quite the opposite. And they are so fantastic in how they convert their buildings. It’s embarrassing that the loudest people are the pitchfork brigade that only want the expensive places to remain here (who are also chains as they are tied to breweries! This place is affordable & barely any pub or restaurant in Cowes offers dining & drinks for all wallets. This church as been left empty for years & noone cared about it up till now or put in any bids to make it into a community place for all to enjoy. All these people now coming forward pretending they care about the building, just don’t want it in their back yard. Simple as that. And are trying to make it out to be some nightmare of a place to come to Cowes. I bet none of the NIMBYS have ever even been in one, let alone the Newport one! I so hope it gets through & is allowed to come here. Fingers crossed