Popular Shropshire pub and restaurant near National Trust treasure makes fresh bid for new car park

Last year Shropshire Council rejected an application from the owners of the Mytton & Mermaid, Brunning & Price, for a 93-space car park on a nearby field.

The matter was appealed to a planning inspector, who also sided with the council.

Now the company has come back with an amended proposal, which it hopes will satisfy the planners.

The Mytton & Mermaid, which sits opposite the National Trust’s Attingham Park, has seen a significant increase in visitors since it was bought by Brunning & Price.

The demand has led to issues with parking at the venue, and in Atcham in general.

The council turned down the previous proposal due to concerns about the “urbanising impact upon the pastoral landscape”

The fresh submission has seen the number of parking spaces reduced to 62, along with a host of dedicated landscaping measures designed to screen the site.

The car park based across the River Severn will be accessed from the B4380.

In a statement detailing the fresh application, planning agents Bidwells said: “The proposal seeks planning permission for the creation of an overflow car park for the Mytton & Mermaid, to alleviate existing parking shortages and associated highway issues in Atcham village.

“The Mytton & Mermaid has experienced a very busy trading period over the last two years, which has placed pressure on its existing customer parking provision and resulted in consequential parking problems for residents within Atcham.

“The proposed car park would be located in a nearby field to the west of the River Severn and would provide 62 additional parking spaces. The spaces would measure 5.0m x 2.8m, with a minimum 6.0m wide circulation route.

“The bays and circulation areas would be constructed using Bodpave polymer grids, filled with root zone mix and grass seed over a stone infiltration blanket, allowing the car park to remain permeable and grassed in appearance.”

It adds: “The car park has been designed to reduce its visual effect on the surrounding countryside and nearby heritage assets.

“Extensive landscaping is to be provided, including planting on a raised mound to help screen and mask the car park.

“Existing landscaping would be retained to preserve natural habitats, with additional landscaping provided in accordance with the submitted landscape drawings and specifications.

“Access would be taken from the road to Cross Houses. Vehicles travelling south would turn left from the road and then left again into the new car park. Vehicles travelling north from Cross Houses would turn right directly into the car park.

“Once parked, customers would walk across Atcham footbridge to reach the Mytton & Mermaid, as directed by proposed signage.

“The car park would be managed through a single ANPR camera. Car park users visiting the Mytton & Mermaid would be required to register their vehicle at the premises to avoid enforcement action. The car park would also be secured by a lockable swing gate for both entry and exit, there is also a height restriction barrier to prevent unsuitable vehicles from entering, which would be unlocked at 11am and relocked at 11.30pm on opening days.”

The document also addresses the previous refusal.

It states: “The previous refusal and appeal decision identified harm arising from the urbanising effect of car parking within a pastoral rural landscape.

“The revised proposal has been designed to respond to that concern. The number of spaces has been reduced and the car park footprint is smaller.

“The scheme includes a stronger landscape strategy, with a soft landscaping along the southern boundary to screen views from sensitive receptors.

“The proposal would retain a more rural character than the previous scheme by reducing the amount of visible car parking and removing features that would appear overtly functional or urban, as well as reducing lighting columns and the access barrier materials.

“The additional landscaping and landform would provide immediate and longer-term mitigation, the planting will consist of mature shrubs and trees with the ambition to ensure the screening is achieved, supported by the submitted visual material intended to demonstrate that views from across the river would be substantially screened.

“The scheme is therefore materially different from the previous proposal. It now places greater emphasis on assimilation into the countryside and reducing visual prominence.”

The proposal also includes plans to deal with any potential flooding from the River Severn.

It says the pub “will keep customers aware of the flood warning alerts,” and that if a flood warning alert is in place, the pub will alert users to vacate the car park and lock the gates.

The document adds: “In the rare event a car is left in the car park, and should cars be displaced by flood water, the new fencing will be designed to contain vehicles.”

A decision will be taken at a later date.

You can find out more about planning applications and planned roadworks where you live by visiting publicnoticeportal.uk/shropshire-star