Plans for a ‘parklet’ outside a city centre pub have been withdrawn after council concerns about the heritage impact.
The Trinity Inn in Bath
Star Pubs and Bars put in the application for The Trinity Inn on James Street West, near Kingsmead Square.
They said they wanted to improve the outside drinking area where there is currently a pavement licence for customers’ use, with picnic benches, umbrellas and café barriers.
The intention was to remove the portable furniture and provide a new more permanent structure – a timber-framed ‘parklet’ with seating booths and all sides and roof sections provided with a clear plastic roll-up wind protector.
Heaters and festoon lighting were also proposed.
The application pointed out that The Trinity is in a “vibrant” area with bars and restaurants, most of which already have external seating areas.
But Bath & North East Somerset Council planners had concerns about the heritage impact of the proposed parklet.
They told the applicant that the substantial planter and high trellis structure enclosing the seating area would “privatise public space” and the parklet would appear overly dominant, detracting from the inn and the open character of the street.
“The use of substantial benches and communal tables rather than individual seats and smaller tables, adds to the dominance of the structure.
“Furthermore, the intended utilisation of festoon lighting and clear plastic roll-up sheet wind protector intended to be securely fixed and locked down during closure will exacerbate the dominance and significant privatisation of public space.
“Given this, we are unable to support the proposal on heritage grounds.”
