THE BLACK BULL
Planning permission and listed building consent for alterations to the Black Bull pub
(see last Newsletter) were granted by the City Council's Planning Committee on 19th December. Beryl Plent attended the meeting and reiterated our concerns about the proposed extension. However, she was assured that the plans would have minimal impact on the building's character and the amenity of nearby residents. We had previously met with representatives of Bass Taverns, and shown them the unsatisfactory state of the cobbles in front of the pub. However, the company states that - according to the deeds handed over by Allied Domecq - the cobbled area does not belong to them! More recently, an application has been submitted to erect an 18-foot-high 'beacon' in place of the existing pub sign. This structure - the trademark of 'Ember Inns' which is the Bass branding selected for the Black Bull - consists of an open fireplace on top of a rectangular pillar. We shall be very surprised indeed if the Council grants permission for such a monstrous structure within our Conservation Area.

SANDFIELD ROAD
Planning permission for conversion of the old Electric Lighting Station into 7 flats
(see July 2000 Newsletter) was granted by the Planning Committee after a site visit on 16th November. The plans had previously been modified to mitigate the loss of privacy to existing residents and to provide an extra parking space, and the permission is subject to numerous conditions including one designed to ensure that the new vehicular entrance will be left open as a turning head for use by other residents.