First-time buyers in Cirencester wine bar fury (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

First-time buyers in Cirencester wine bar fury

5:00pm Tuesday 25th September 2012 in News By Laura Shack

A COUPLE of first-time buyers are livid after discovering a neighbouring shop could be turned into a late-night wine bar.

Tom Smith and Katy Sirr were distraught when they found out earlier this month that the landlord of the New Wave Fish Shop in Market Place had applied to turn the business into a three-floor wine bar.

The couple said they would not have bought their home above neighbouring store, East, in February had they known there were plans to open a wine bar next door.

Tom, store manager at Topps Tiles in Cirencester, said: "It’s my first property and I was thrilled to bits with it until this dropped through my letter box.

"I accept there’s noise in the Market Place but there’s going to be people smoking and milling around at night under my bedroom window.

"It would be over three levels so the noise would come through the walls. And if they apply for a music licence it would be another problem."

Under the plans, the listed building next to the Cirencester Parish Church would be transformed on the cellar, ground and first floor to a wine bar, which would be open from 11.30am until midnight on Friday and Saturday and until 11pm from Sunday to Thursday.

Joint owner of New Wave Fish Shop, Ben Hoggett, said they still had 14 months on the lease and it was unlikely that the fishmongers, which opened in Cirencester in 2008, would be forced out by the landlord after that time.

"We’ve got a good relationship with our landlord," Mr Hoggett said. "We’re not going anywhere - not unless we want to go."

He added that the landlord Philip Crawshaw was just exploring his options and there were no immediate plans to create a wine bar at the central location.

However, if Cotswold District Council approves the full planning application, work would usually need to start within three years of the decision date.

Cirencester-based Thompson and Partners, who are acting on behalf of Mr Crawshaw, refused to comment.

The application for a change of use has yet to be considered by Cotswold District Council’s planning committee. To view the plans or submit a comment before the September 27 deadline, visit wiltsglosstandard.co.uk