There has been much discussion in Whickham recently about a possible application by pub chain Wetherspoons to convert the Whickham Council Offices to a new pub. We can now report that the company submitted their planning application to Gateshead Council in January but has now withdrawn it.
At this point we have not been told why the application has been withdrawn but we assume that due to the large number of objections, Wetherspoons may be deciding to modify their plans. If that is the case, a new application is likely to be lodged with Gateshead in the near future.
The building is not owned by Gateshead Council. It was built in the early 1900s by the Carr-Ellison family who leased it to the former Whickham Urban District Council. Gateshead Council took over the lease in 1974 when Whickham Council was abolished. Over the years, the building has played a huge role in the community life of Whickham, but the lease is now coming to an end and the Council has decided that it no longer has a use for the building.
Councillors Peter Craig, Chris Ord and Jonathan Wallace had a look around the building recently and took a number of photos to ensure there was a record of the building.
News story provided by eFocus - a free, monthly email newsletter about local issues and events produced by the councillors of the Whickham area for anyone wanting to keep in touch with local goings-on. To subscribe to eFocus, contact Dr Jonathan Wallace at: jonathanwallace@compuserve.com
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