Wetherspoons outside seating area approved in Middlesbrough

The Swatters’ Carr, a Wetherspoons pub on Linthorpe Road in the Central ward of Middlesbrough, has now been given the go ahead to pedestrianise part of Victoria Road (to the south of the site). A committee report details how this will enable “an outdoor seating area which will also include moveable planters and barriers”.

Andrew Glossop, development control manager at Middlesbrough Council explained that there were detailed requirements from the Highways Department, “rather than just bringing benches out and things on to the pavement, where there’s the kerbs.” The kerbs and surfacing would need to be “dealt with as part of this scheme”.

He added that the views of officers were to “accepting it from a highways perspective, it can be achieved, it will improve the area”. He also said: “There’s an existing beer garden to the front of this property, although it’s not the core town centre, Linthorpe Road is actually quite a lively part, it’s the night-time economy area of the town.”

But, noise concerns were taken into account for residents, so it was recommended by council officers that the outdoor seating area was not to be used after 10pm. Noise had been one of the concerns raised by Central ward Labour Councillor Zafar Uddin in his objection to the proposals. Two other objections were received from members of the public.

Councillors made many queries and comments about the plans, with Middlesbrough Independent Councillors Association (MICA) Councillor Ian Morrish asking what the permitted start time would be the for outdoor seating area, highlighting the problem of a 10pm curfew if people could use the seating area at the start of “a new day, it could literally be a minute past midnight”. The response was that use of the outdoor seating area would be permitted to open between 9am and 10pm.

Cllr Morrish also asked who would be responsible for maintaining the pedestrianised road when the works are complete and what if the applicant wanted to use expensive “marble”. The highways officer said that “we will agree an appropriate material that we’re happy to maintain”. He added that it wouldn’t “cost the earth”.

Labour Councillor Janet Thompson asked: “Who is actually paying for this?” It was confirmed that all works to the highway would be funded by the applicant, none of it at a cost to the authority.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Morgan McClintock argued that “this is public property at the moment”, and that the council should be paid for the lease of this land, “the council could do with some rental income of some sort”. Unsatisfied with the answer, he pressed further, and was told that the current arrangement will have been signed off by officers at the “highways maintenance team down at Cargo Fleet Lane”.

Some other issues raised included Cllr Morrish asking whether there was a restriction on pavement drinking in that area of the town as well as Labour Councillor David Branson querying vehicular access. Additionally, MICA Councillor Graham Wilson asked about liaison with Steve Cranston of Cleveland Police. Cleveland Police operate a ‘Secured by Design’ initiative to promote the inclusion of architectural crime prevention measures.

When it came to comments, Cllr Thompson said that “we’re trying to reduce our carbon footprint in Middlesbrough” and “there’d be a lot more roads I’d like to see pedestrianised in Middlesbrough” so she was supportive of the proposals.

Contrastingly, Independent Councillor Joan McTigue remarked that “I’m not going to approve anything which means that a company is going to make money by being able to use land that belongs to Middlesbrough Council, when the residents aren’t going to benefit and the council aren’t going to benefit whatsoever.”

Labour Councillor Ian Blades proposed voting to give the plans the green light. The vote was six in favour and three against, the three councillors voting against the proposal were Cllrs McTigue, McClintock and Wilson.