Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Richard Youle

This large shop in Swansea is going to become a wine bar

A shop in Sketty is set to become a wine bar.

City councillors have approved a change of use application to create a ground floor-only venue at 47 Gower Road, Sketty Cross.

The wine bar would be open from 11am to midnight seven days a week, include a deli area and accommodate up to 57 fans of the grape.

In recent years the empty premises has been home to triathlon equipment and home interior outlets.

READ MORE: Skate objectors 'fully vindicated'

Some concerns were raised by Swansea's planning committee about the wine bar proposal - and one objector complained about the "appearance of vomits in the area".

Council officers said the application went against planning guidance for district centres such as Sketty Cross because it would reduce the number of retail units below a set threshold.

But they said it was possible the unit would continue to remain empty, due to the effect of the Covid pandemic on business in general and bricks and mortar retail in particular.

In addition, the Welsh Government has introduced temporary changes allowing shops in areas including district centres to become food and drink venues for six months.

The ground floor unit on the corner of Gower Road and Dillwyn Road, Sketty Cross, which is set to become a wine bar (Google Maps)

Officers therefore recommended the scheme for approval, subject to soundproofing measures being carried out to protect people living in the flats about the ground floor.

Cllr Mary Jones said she was concerned about the effect of customers talking and laughing while seated at tables outside on the residents above, and wondered if a condition could be added to prevent outdoor seating.

A planning officer said it would be "an unusual scenario" for the council not to allow outdoor tables and chairs, given that the Welsh Government permitted this without the need for planning consent.

The officer added that the applicant would need a licence from the council's highways department for tables and chairs.

Cllr Peter Black said the pavement's proximity to "a very busy junction" seemed to him a potential problem, while Cllr Linda Tyler-Lloyd said she saw "a lot of difficulties down the line", despite a wine bar looking an attractive proposition.

Cllr Mike Lewis said he had no problem with the application, adding that wine bar customers didn't spill out onto pavements like pub customers did.

Cllr Des Thomas said voices from the wine bar would probably be less of an issue for residents than the noise of traffic at Sketty Cross.

In the end, all committee members voted in favour of the application except for Cllr Tyler-Lloyd, who abstained.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.