Mill hotel plans hit trouble

Plans to transform a historic north Shropshire mill into a contemporary hotel and restaurant could have hit a stumbling block because of fire safety fears.

The Curshaws at the Park hotel in Park Avenue, Whitchurch, could have its application for a new premises licence put on hold due to objections raised by building control officers and the fire service. The main concern raised in a report prepared for a licensing hearing this week is the lack of an effective escape from the first floor of the building if a fire breaks out.

Today the hotel's bosses said they were working closely with building control in a bid to keep the plans for a new year opening on track.

North Shropshire District Council's licensing committee will make a decision on the application on Friday.

The report reads: "There does not appear to have been any consultation with the responsible authorities prior to the submission of the application and as indicated by both the fire officer and building control, there are safety issues and also issues with regard to an effective means of escape for the first floor of the premises."

The new Curshaws hotel will be run by husband and wife team Richard and Katherine Shaw.

Mr Shaw said today: "We are working very closely with building control and are prepared to do whatever we need to comply with regulations. We are hoping to get the vast majority, if not all the proposals they are making, done by Friday."