WESTBURY Town councillors have criticised plans to alter the Grade II-listed building of the former Lopes Arms, as they say it would spoil the rich history and street scene of the Market Place.
In March of last year, Lily Designs Ltd started work to refurbish and convert the historic site into three residential homes.
The plans would see the replacement of the canopy with a lean-to porch, alterations to the carriage stable doors, as well as proposed external railings.
Councillors voted to object to the plans at a meeting of the highways, planning, and development of the town council on Monday 16th January.
Cllr Gordon King criticised the plans and suggested that the alterations would have a knock-on effect on the Market Place as a whole.
He said, “I have no issue with the majority of what is proposed, however there are a few suggestions that I do not support. This is an historic building that is principally 17th century in its origin in most parts, of which goes back all the way to the 15th century. There has been an inn, pub, or coaching inn in that area since 1600 or so – it has been long established.
“Those iconic archway doors are a significant part of the street scene and our heritage, and they have a strong local and district significance. I cannot acquiesce that they should be cut in half and windows put in the top of them. It will spoil that historical record that we should be proud of, and it will damage the street scene irreversibly.
“The extension of the railings in the Market Place will also irretrievably change the character and nature of the street scene.”
Cllr Mark Bailey added, “I’m concerned with the idea of introducing railings in the Market Place as this will mark off parts of the market square – the rest of the application seems fine to me.”
The current eighteenth century building is believed to stand on the site of a fourteenth century inn.
In the late 1500s it was called the George and Dragon. Renamed the Lord Abingdon Arms in 1754 in honour of the local landowner, it became the Lopes Arms in about 1809 when Sir Manasseh Lopes bought the manor.
By the late nineteenth century, it was thriving as a commercial and family hotel with horse-drawn transport for hire.
An omnibus was sent to meet every train arriving at Westbury station and bring passengers to the hotel.
It was also the venue for several local inquests and auction sales.
At the start of the First World War, it was briefly used to accommodate officers from the Army Service Corps.
Towards the end of the twentieth century, it was renamed again and became the Westbury Hotel, before reverting to the Lopes for its final few years as a public house.
