Furious Cullercoats residents have spoken out against plans to demolish a pub to make way for apartments and shops.
Malhotra Leisure Ltd is behind plans to bulldoze the Sandpiper Pub and erect 18 apartments and three shops in its place.
If the proposals get the go-ahead the apartments and three retail units, one of which will be a Co-op Convenience store, will be built on the Farringdon Road site.
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A planning statement lodged with the council said that the Co-op would create between 15 and 20 new jobs with 50 jobs created during the build time.
It argued that trade at the pub has been in decline for the past five years and it is “no longer viable as a going concern”.
It said: “The proposals will also serve to redevelop a declining site, making efficient use of land and use of the existing access. The Sandpiper is no longer viable as a going concern.
“The public house has seen decreasing barrelage, trading revenue and profit year-on-year for the past five years.
“Recent development at Tynemouth and Whitley Bay, notably the borough’s flagship Spanish City development, have evolved the food and drink offer in the local area, and increased the competition faced by the pub.”
But residents aren’t convinced and 98 objections to the scheme have been lodged on the authority’s website.
Objectors raised fears about the impact on traffic and the “tragic loss”of a local boozer.
One wrote: “As a member of the community myself and many residents rely on this public house as a means of relaxing. I strongly object to this building being removed.”
Another said: “This will be a tragic loss to my local community. It is a small and friendly public house that my community rely on to get away from the worries of the world. It must not be taken down.”
One objector questioned the need for the shops and warned that more traffic would put people in danger.
They wrote: “There would be an increase in traffic and pollution. Children use this road to get to and from school. The amount of extra traffic would create more of a danger for anyone using Farringdon Road. As for the Retail units – do we really need more.”
However, the scheme has seven backers, with one supporter describing it as “perfect”.
They added: “Ethical shop in walking distance and employment and small housing for local. Perfect.”
North Tyneside Council is expected to decide on the proposals in April.
