Rotherham Council plan for former Swinton pub to become shop despite objections
The Sportsman on Fitzwilliam Street in Swinton has been vacant since it closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Rotherham Council has given the go-ahead for a vacant pub to be turned into a new convenience store, despite residents’ objections.
The Sportsman on Fitzwilliam Street in Swinton has been vacant since it closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
The application was approved by the council’s planning board on Thursday, August 6.
Nearly 50 letters of objection were received in response to the application, as well as 154 signatures on a petition of objection.
There were concerns over increased delivery traffic, a lack of parking and increased risks to pedestrians from traffic as the building is on a junction.
Others had concerns that another shop could result in anti-social behaviour, littering and crime in the area.
The shop shall only be open to customers between 7am and 10pm Mondays to Saturdays, and 7am to 9pm on Sundays.
No deliveries for the shop are to be received outside the hours of 8am and 9pm Mondays to Saturdays, and 9am and 9pm on Sundays.
The car park on site shall only be for residential and staff use, not for customer use.
Several residents attended the meeting to object to the plans.
One resident said: “I believe this particular shop is neither needed or wanted in this area. I think this has been backed up by the objections that you’ve received.
“I don’t know how the council actually sees it as a justified need within the area when you’ve had such a large amount of objections to it.
“I believe that it would cause nuisance to the area with the hours, the noise, the littering.”
Another resident said that the building should be redeveloped into residential homes “meeting the increasing need for affordable accommodation in the area.”