Pub to rise from ashes?

BURNT out . . . the damage caused by the fire

A PUB is set to rise from the ashes of a burnt-down shopping centre in Shaw — but faces opposition from locals.

The Wetherspoons chain wants to transform the derelict Four Lane End shopping centre in Milnrow Road — also known as Greenway — into its latest pub, complete with beer garden and smoking shelter.

A massive blaze ripped through the shopping arcade in December, 2009, and required 40 firefighters to tackle it over two hours.

The blaze, which is believed to have been started deliberately, at 2.30am, started in the Crazy Fast Foods Takeaway and spread to neighbouring businesses, damaging Lewelle’s hairdresser, Lewisbet bookmakers, The Bubble Patch haberdashery and two empty shops.

They have remained empty since.

Wetherspoons is now poised to buy and redevelop them. A planning application has just been submitted to Oldham Council.

Wetherspoons spokesman Eddie Gershon said the purchase hadn’t quite been completed, but added: “We are very keen to obtain planning permission to develop the pub. The site would require planning permission before we can redevelop it and it’s now up to the council to make a decision and we would respect any decision it makes.”

The development would bring much-needed jobs and investment to the dilapidated site — but concerns have been raised over the number of pubs and takeaways already in the centre of Shaw.

Shaw and Crompton Parish Councillor David Dunning said the parish council had yet to receive anything in writing on the plans but around 20 residents had been in contact to protest.

He said: “Personally I think we have enough pubs in Shaw without having any more and I think it would be much better as a shopping centre. I think the parish council planning committee would be of the same opinion.

“There’s a pub directly opposite and on both corners so there are three within 100 yards and it would be ridiculous to have another. Pubs are a dying breed and bringing another in will make existing ones struggle even more.”

The chain has 793 pubs nationwide, including two in Oldham town centre — The Up Steps Inn on High Street and The Squire Knott in Yorkshire Street. It’s renowned for low prices, including for food, long opening hours and no music or games.

Mr Gershon said Wetherspoons typically creates 35 to 40 jobs when opening a new pub and invests £800,000 upwards into redevelopments.

It has a very good track record for redeveloping numerous sites, including derelict buildings such as banks and other pubs, he said.

He added: “We have a couple of pubs in Oldham that have been very successful for many years. We are always keen to open new pubs in areas where we are successful. In Oldham we have done extremely well and there’s no reason to think people in Shaw won’t enjoy it as much as those in Oldham.

“It’s a site that’s remained empty for over a year and we believe it would bring with it investment to that site, new jobs and hopefully a new asset to the area. If a Wetherspoons opens it’s a decent catalyst for the area itself.”