A former Nantwich pub looks set to be converted into a funeral directors with a self-contained flat above, writes Belinda Ryan.
The Rifleman on James Hall Street closed earlier this year after the landlords announced they had to call time on the pub because it was no longer financially viable.
As previously reported, the submitted application states the proposal is to convert the ground floor for use as offices with a flat above.
But local man Gavin Palin, who has bought the pub, said he wants to use the ground floor as a funeral home, which is covered within the same classification.
Mr Palin, who runs Gavin Palin Funeral Services, said: “We’ve been looking for a premises to move to that is more suitable and more user-friendly for our families.
“Where we are, on Davenport Avenue, it’s sometimes a little bit difficult for the families to park when they come to see their loved ones, and really we’re looking at something more user friendly and more private for them.”
If planning permission is granted Mr Palin said he would be hoping to move the business into the former pub towards the end of the year.
“We’ve obviously got to get through planning first,” he said, adding he would then put his current Davenport Avenue property up for sale.
Mr Palin, who is well known in Nantwich from his time as a firefighter and first responder, said the reaction from local residents to the proposals has been good.
“We haven’t had any negative comments from the residents,” he said, adding several people were interested in buying the pub site for housing and many locals have said they are glad he’s bought it instead.
“Most of them have come to us saying it’s absolutely perfect, it will suit the business and they’re glad we’re retaining the building as it is, which we are,” he said.
“There won’t be much change at all really and we haven’t got that high number of vehicles that would come with the houses, so that’s the feedback I’m getting with the residents around there, and people on Facebook seem quite happy with it.”
Mr Palin said the upstairs flat would be lived in by a member of his staff.
Access to the site will be off James Hall Street. The existing external stairway will serve as access to the self-contained flat and the funeral home will be accessed through the existing ground floor doors.
The application, number 23/2411N, can be viewed on the planning portal on Cheshire East Council’s website.
The last date for submitting comments is July 18 and the application is due to be determined by a planning officer under delegated authority.
(Pic by Google Maps)
When the national newspapers picked up the story of the sale of The Rifleman and how it was a “hidden gem” I replied to the story that it was never going to reopen as a pub despite assurances from the buyer that it was. And low and behold, here’s the planning application for it to be gone forever.