A bad week for Old Market

The sudden passing of John Wright, owner and chef of John's Cafe Bar on Midland Road, last Wednesday, will be a great loss not only for his family, friends and customers, but also for Old Market itself. John's business has been a great asset to the area. Its good reputation has drawn people from far and wide to its Sunday lunches and Thai food. Exactly the kind of business that Old Market really needs.

On the same day, Old Market received another blow, albeit of a very different kind. This one came in the form of a planning application. For its former shop at 5-11 West Street, Thorne Holdings Ltd. has applied for permission to "extend [the] ground floor from Use Classes A1, A2 & B2 to include A3, A4 & sui generis in relation to a night club."

In other words, Old Market is at risk of losing yet more retail frontage.

Does Old Market really need another club? Or would somewhere to do the shopping serve it better?

Thorne was granted planning permission in July 2007 ( 07/01107/F ) for the "construction of commercial unit on ground floor; construction of 24 no. self-contained flats with associated landscaping" in the space extending back from its shop and yard in West Street to its yard in Braggs Lane. An overview of the plan can be seen here.

It is likely that the new planning application will be discussed at the Easton Planning Task Group meeting at 6pm on Tuesday 7th July. The meetings are public and are held at Easton Community Centre, Kilburn Street, Easton. If you wish to comment on the application for change of use, please come along.
Alternatively, you can make your comment online here: 09/02402/X or in writing to Bristol City Council Planning Department.
The closing date for standard consultations is 20th July.

p.s. Thorne Holdings is landlord to a series of properties on the north side of West Street, including the last remaining massage parlour.

Use Classes:
A1 Shops - Shops, retail warehouses, hairdressers, undertakers, travel and ticket agencies, post offices, pet shops, sandwich bars, showrooms, domestic hire shops, dry cleaners and funeral directors.
A2 Financial and professional services - Banks, building societies, estate and employment agencies, professional and financial services and betting offices.
A3 Restaurants and cafés - For the sale of food and drink for consumption on the premises - restaurants, snack bars and cafes.
A4 Drinking establishments - Public houses, wine bars or other drinking establishments (but not a night clubs).
B2 General industrial
Sui Generis - Theatres, houses in multiple paying occupation, hostels providing no significant element of care, scrap yards. Petrol filling stations and shops selling and/or displaying motor vehicles. Retail warehouse clubs, nightclubs, launderettes, taxi businesses, amusement centres. Casinos.