J D Wetherspoon granted planning permission for Prestwick

Aug 27 2010 by Stuart Wilson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

A PUB giant is one step closer to pulling its first pint in Prestwick.

J D Wetherspoon has won planning permission for a move to the town’s Main Street.

But they still face a battle to win over South Ayrshire Council’s licensing chiefs.

The deal, which faces fierce opposition from Prestwick publicans, has split opinion in the town.

And objectors, who turned up in force to the planning meeting, say the “superpub” could destroy Prestwick.

Kenny Blair, director of Ayrshire bar and restaurant chain Buzzworks, was quick to the point.

He warned: “This will lead to an over-provision of pubs and be totally detrimental to the character of the town.

“A superpub with capacity for more than 500 people will jeopardise reinvestment in the area.

“The plans have no provision for smokers, so at any time you could have 30 people spilling on to Prestwick Main Street for a cigarette, which clearly endangers safety.

“Ultimately, this would end Prestwick’s status as the envy of the west of Scotland for its choice of licenced premises.”

Former council leader Hugh Hunter, who represents the town, also weighed in with concerns of his own.

He said: “We would have an unacceptable concentration of pubs in the Main Street if this goes ahead.

“Prestwick already has ten pubs, ten coffee shops and restaurants and eight takeaways.

“How anyone can look at this and say a Wetherspoon’s pub wouldn’t affect these businesses is beyond me.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of Prestwick and should be protected at all cost.”

One of the town’s longest serving hotel owners, Stewart Clarkson of the Parkstone, also lined up to object.

And Prestwick North Community Council noted their opposition to the plans, which would see the pub replace an old Woolworths store.

But campaigners claim low-priced food and drink would provide competition and leave punters as the winner.

And they’re nearer to getting their wish after councillors on the planning panel nodded through the planning application.

The SNP’s Ian Douglas confessed: “It seems to me that many of the objectors are confused about the powers of this panel.

“Many of the issues they raise, such as over-provision of pubs, are dealt with by the licensing board and not us.”

But fellow SNP man, John Allan, felt the panel could make a call if the superpub is going to affect the surrounding area.

He said: “It appears one person is going to build a pub, followed by another person building an even bigger pub, until Prestwick is turned into a mass of flashing lights.”

However, his motion to refuse the application was supported by just one councillor, Tory Ann Galbraith.

They lost the vote 5-2 and J D Wetherspoon will now go before the licensing panel in a bid to rubber stamp the deal.