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Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hotel management issues statement over application to extend historic town landmark
A PLANNING application submitted to Dudley Council to extend a historic hotel in Stourbridge Town Centre and repurpose its conference room into new bedrooms has sparked controversy since its submission. The owners of The Talbot Hotel on Stourbridge High Street are seeking planning permission from Dudley Council to build two rear extensions and divide the conference room, more commonly known as the ballroom, to create 10 additional bedrooms. The hotel was bought by Birmingham-based hospitality operators, Rosevine Ltd, at the end of 2024, with the new owners looking to revamp the hotel with two rear extensions and internal alterations, submitting plans on March 18. The Grade II listed building dates back to the 1600s, with the application having attracted strong criticism from over 100 objectors, including the town's MP and local councillors. Cllr Andrew Tromans said: 'In my role as an elected representative for Stourbridge Town, I have objected to the planning applications submitted to make significant alterations to the Grade II-listed Talbot Hotel. 'I do not believe that they would be of benefit for our town.' 'If these applications are not thrown out, I have signalled my intention to speak against them at a future planning meeting.' Stourbridge MP Cat Eccles added: 'The Talbot Hotel is one of the oldest buildings in Stourbridge and is deservedly well loved by many of our residents here, me included, not just as an MP but as someone who has grown up in this area my entire life. 'The Talbot standing tall on our high street feels ingrained in Stourbridge's identity.' She continued: 'As Member of Parliament for Stourbridge, I have been very clear and consistent on just how much the heritage of our constituency is something we deserve to be proud of and therefore warrants protecting and respecting. 'I think the overwhelming support for the video I put out on social media is evidence of the fact that The Talbot is a part of that heritage. 'Therefore, any significant changes, and the potential knock-on effects of them, will be relevant to all of us in the community here, who still frequent the high street and recognise the importance of buildings like this in our area.' The historic grade II listed building is an iconic feature of the high street (Image: Bev Holder / Newsquest) Concerns have been raised that 'irreparable damage' could be done if Dudley Council planners give their approval, with the proposed alterations impacting the historical character of the building. There have also been fears that, should this application be approved, the owners will seek to apply for a change of use to operate The Talbot as an HMO. In her objection, Cat Eccles MP said: 'While this application does not state that explicitly, it is clear from the removal of the kitchen facilities, proposing a laundry and additional bedrooms, that this is their plan. 'We should not be allowing underhand tactics like this, which later result in a retrospective change of use application. 'The location of the hotel makes it totally unsuitable for an HMO, and there is vast amounts of evidence locally showing that large unmanaged HMOs cause issues within the area.' The application submitted by Birmingham-based AP Architects does not mention anything that explicitly states an intention to change the hotel into an HMO, with the architects also claiming their designs are in keeping with the existing building and would not detract from its heritage assets. There have also been unsubstantiated rumours circulating that, if it were to become an HMO, the hotel could be used to house migrants. Cllr Tromams has said the hotel is not currently being used to house asylum seekers and has urged people to avoid repeating rumours that have not been proven. He said: 'I have been alarmed by the speculation that the hotel is being used as temporary accommodation for migrants and have spoken to the relevant authorities, who confirmed this is not the case. 'The planning applications for the Talbot Hotel will be scrutinised through the proper process, but I urge calm. 'We need to deal with this issue on the basis of facts, not fear. Please do your part by not repeating unsubstantiated rumours.' A spokesperson for The Talbot Hotel's management told the Stourbridge News that the application to build more rooms is to meet demand for extra bookings and has nothing to do with plans for an HMO. The spokesperson said: 'We operate as a commercial hotel with guests largely coming via Expedia, etc, and public walk-ins. 'Currently, there is a requirement for extra rooms, hence the application to extend the Talbot Hotel. 'Seven extra rooms have been applied for as well as extra space to cater for the hotel's own laundry requirements, such as for bed linen and towels and storage of linen, which is currently outsourced due to limited space. 'Reconfiguration is also required to modernise and redesign the bar and restaurant area for our guests, mostly just moving the toilets away from the frontage of the high street to create open space there. 'The planning application is all in line with our business plan for a commercial hotel. 'I don't know what 'HMO' has got to do with this planning application. 'Also, last Friday (meaning April 25), we had an on-site meeting with the local MP and councillor, who were satisfied with what we are doing and what the planning application is for.' The relevant applications P25/0222 and P25/0223 are available to view on the council's planning portal.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lib Dems celebrate growing council presence with rally in Wollaston
DUDLEY'S Liberal Democrats launched a bid for a big council comeback by staging a rally in Wollaston where they welcomed their newest member and some familiar veteran campaigners. Independent councillor Andrew Tromans announced yesterday (Saturday March 1) that he had joined the Lib Dems – six months after he quit the Labour Party and formed a Unity Group with the Lib Dems to work on campaigns of mutual interest. The move means the Lib Dems are now a four-strong team on Dudley Council – still a far cry from their heyday in the early noughties when they had around half a dozen councillors on the local authority, which is made up of 72 councillors. Liberal Democrats, left to right, Cllr Ethan Stafford, Cllr Carl Cashman, from Liverpool, Cllr Ryan Priest, Cllr Andrew Tromans and Cllr Kash Khan at Wollaston Village Hall. (Image: Bev Holder / Newsquest) But there's a change in the spring air, and lots to be done, the buoyant yellow, gold and orange clad campaigners told the News as they announced the Wollaston and Stourbridge Town Focus team would be known as the Stourbridge Lion team going forwards. Headed up by Cradley and Wollescote councillor Ryan Priest, who won his council seat in a byelection in August 2023, and Lib Dem ward councillors Ethan Stafford and Kash Khan who both won seats in May 2024, the Liberal Democrats in Dudley have made gains locally in the last two years and they have their sights set on taking even more council seats in the next local elections in 2026 in the hope of becoming a new opposition force. Cllr Priest, Dudley Lib Dem Group leader, said: 'I'm proud of what the Liberal Democrats are doing in Dudley, providing a real opposition to this Conservative administration. It's about getting involved and getting things done, despite not being in power and despite the financial restraints on the authority.' The local visibility of the Lib Dems has also seen veteran campaigners and former councillors David Sheppard, Chris Bramall and Lois Bramall, who were at the rally and raring to go door knocking afterwards, express an interest in a return to frontline politics. Former Wollaston and Stourbridge councillor Lois, who has spent the last decade building up a counselling service in Wolverhampton, said: 'It would be nice. I'm certainly considering it. I'm keen to do whatever we need to do get the numbers up again. If we work hard things can happen.' The Liberal Democrat Stourbridge Lion team for Wollaston and Stourbridge Town (l-r) David Sheppard, Cllr Andrew Tromans and Lois Bramall at Wollaston Village Hall. (Image: Bev Holder / Newsquest) David Sheppard, former leader of the Dudley Lib Dem Group, also fancies making a return to the council. He told the News: 'It's an exciting time. It's just what Dudley borough needs – some form of third-party force that tells it like it is, tells the truth and goes out and campaigns for things people are really concerned about – like the local toilets.' Mr Sheppard, a Lib Dem councillor for Norton from 1993 to 2004, celebrated a victory on Monday February 24 when Dudley Council confirmed it would reverse a planned budget cut that would have seen Wollaston and Netherton's public toilets axed and instead look to ditch the mayoral car and attendant. Assisted by Cllr Tromans and Lib Dem colleagues, he led a successful campaign to save the toilet blocks – putting up posters and starting a petition which was presented to the council ahead of Monday's budget meeting. He said: 'I'm hoping to get back in. I'm going to be standing in this ward with Andrew.' READ MORE: Independent Stourbridge councillor joins the Lib Dems Seasoned Lib Dem campaigner and former Norton councillor Chris Bramall also hasn't given up on local politics. The party's candidate for the Parliamentary seat of Stourbridge for the last decade or so, who has stood without success more times than he can remember, remains determined to do what it takes to support the party he's belonged to for more than two decades. He remembers the local heyday the Lib Dems enjoyed when they held around 15 per cent of the seats in the council chamber. Chris said: 'It was exciting times. We had all three council seats in Norton and in Wollaston and Stourbridge and we pressed all the time for more power for Stourbridge. 'We used to have the area committee which could actually achieve things - and the Lib Dems are now pushing for local councils for each area, with the first in Cradley.' Liberal Democrat campaigners at the rally at Wollaston Village Hall. L-r - Cllr Andrew Tromans, Cllr Ryan Priest, Cllr Ethan Stafford and Cllr Kash Khan. (Image: Bev Holder / Newsquest) He described the return of the Lib Dems to the council chamber as 'amazing' and said: 'They've achieved so much, saving The Dell Open Space, saving the public toilets and the leisure centres. All that's been done by working with the Conservatives, we had to; it was the right thing to do.' There's still plenty of work ahead though. Councillor Kash Khan said: 'We're hoping in 2026 that we'll have another two to three Lib Dem councillors.' The Liberal Democrat Stourbridge Lion team for Wollaston and Stourbridge Town (l-r) David Sheppard, Cllr Andrew Tromans and Lois Bramall at Wollaston Village Hall. (Image: Bev Holder / Newsquest) As they celebrated their local achievements, they were joined by Liverpool Lib Dem councillor Carl Cashman who gave a speech in the recently reopened Wollaston Village Hall. He told supporters how the Lib Dems fought back after having zero councillors after the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government and said it's quite a 'difficult thing to do' and he would be watching to see how the Dudley group fares in the local elections in 2026, 2027 and beyond. Labour's Cat Eccles, who is MP for Stourbridge as well as a councillor for Wollaston and Stourbridge Town, was less happy about the news that her former ward colleague has defected to the Lib Dems. She said: 'I'm sure residents who voted in three Labour councillors last May will be disappointed with what they've ended up with. Cllr Andrew Tromans in his Labour Party days with Cllr Cat Eccles, who became Stourbridge's MP in the general election in July 2024. (Image: Handout) 'It was obvious from when the Unity Group formed that it was Cllr Tromans' intention to rejoin the Lib Dems, the party he started out as a member of. 'Following the council budget meeting it's clear the Lib Dems are propping up Harley's Conservatives and willing to throw residents under the bus for a backroom deal. 'They demonstrated this with their self-serving amendments to the budget to spend £75k on a town council feasibility study and 'saving' a public toilet by handing the mayor's driver his P45. 'Councillor Jason Griffin and I will continue to work hard for our residents in Wollaston and Stourbridge Town and we're proud to have backed Labour's amendment to the budget which would have saved vital services for people across the Dudley borough.'
