Wetherspoon Jobs – Controversy over new pub in Lymington

Following a long and controversial planning permission process, J D Wetherspoon begins transforming an empty store in Lymington into The Six Bells pub this month and expects it to open before Christmas, creating about 40 jobs.

The chain’s proposals in the town have caused the community to send letters of protest and a petition to the local council.  The council turned down J D Wetherspoon’s first proposal was turned down amid fears that the pub would disturb nearby pensioners and churchgoers.  The pub chain’s second application generated almost 1,000 letters of protest, despite the company’s proposal to add a wildlife garden as part of its bid.  However, this was balanced by a 1,000 name petition and over 100 letters in favour of the application and the council finally approved the proposal after a long and passionate debate.

The town has since been dubbed snobbish, with the town also expressing discontent at the possibility of an Argos store opening.  However, one resident stated that Lymington was at risk of becoming of an empty town and that she welcomed Wetherspoons to the town, indicating that hard pressed families would be able to afford to go there.