Heritage guardians refuse to budge over opposition to car park plan for popular pub near Shrewsbury

The plan is to build a car park in a field across the River Severn from the pub, with customers accessing the venue by walking over the historic Atcham footbridge.

Historic England objected to the proposal over its concern about the potential impact on heritage assets in the area, saying the car park could have an 'urbanising effect'.

Writing to Shropshire Council in January it said: "Despite the site being located to adjacent main road, is very much that of a pastoral, tranquil and rural setting, where the car park would be detrimental to visual amenity, including key views."

Brunning & Price has since made a number of changes to the proposal for the car park - which would have 93 parking spaces - designed to allay concerns, while a fresh heritage assessment commissioned by the firm said the plan's impact would range "from nil to negligible beneficial".

But, despite changes Historic England has been unmoved in its response.

In a letter sent to the council on March 26 the organisation says: "The amended documents have not addressed nor do they affect the concerns raised in our letter of 03 January 2025."

Historic England have not been the only critics of the plan, with the National Trust, which manages neighbouring Attingham Park, also objecting to the proposal.

Updated documents earlier this month showed the changes to the plans from the applicant in an attempt to address the issues.

Under the proposal customers would get to the car park by turning off the B3480, then immediately left into the car park. The access has been moved further south away from the B3480 under amendments to the scheme.

The proposal is to use polymer grids on the floor, filled with grass and stones to mark out the spaces.

A statement said: "The use of these will allow the green character of the site to be maintained. A timber post and rail fence would also be installed around the site."

Cameras will also be in place to make sure the car park is only used by visitors to the venue.

The statement adds: "Access to the carpark would be monitored by an ANPR camera mounted on a lamppost to ensure that only registered visitors to the Mytton and Mermaid would access the car park.

"Users of the car park would be notified of the policies through the use of 10 signs positioned around the car park."

The document also highlights plans for lighting, stating: "Solar powered photovoltaic lamps on 4m columns would light the carpark at night with two further posts installed along the pedestrian access to the Old Atcham Bridge.

"The bridge would be lit via wall mounted down lights attached to the plinth of the bridge with minimal fixings."

A decision on the plans will be taken at a later date.