THE landlord of a Lostock which could become a next-door-neighbour to 15 homes has said the latest plans submitted are ‘ridiculous’.

Stephen Lamb, who has been at the Slow & Easy in Manchester Road for three years, has criticised updated plans for the development, which would see the former bowling green built on and some homes coming right up to the pub’s walls.

The pub already stands to lose around half of its car parking space to the new homes, and the proximity of the homes in the latest application is concerning to Mr Lamb, with approved outline plans having suggested more of a buffer and retention of the bowling green.

“It was reasonably acceptable, what they had put in before,” Mr Lamb told the Guardian.

“What they are doing now is coming right up to the side of the pub.

“We have live music on Fridays and Saturdays, right up alongside that side of the pub and this is going to cause problems with noise.”

Initial plans threatened to demolish the pub itself to make way for houses, but numerous objections and Asset of Community Value (ACV) accreditation meant plans were reshaped. The pub went on to win a CAMRA award the following year.

Mr Lamb said: “The pub has been going from strength to strength, so it’s such a shame to see the latest plans.

“The pub is the heart of the community and we have a lot of events and charity days. The bowling green has been used as a beer garden and used for a community bonfire and Christmas markets. The Bike ‘n’ Bands has been there for six years and we are going to have to move that as well.

“If they get these plans passed, the houses will be so close and we are going to get complaints. You can imagine that people will be outside smoking – we are open until midnight on weekends – and people will complain.”

There are also access concerns for Mr Lamb, with the development set to share the same Manchester Road entrance and take over the eastern side of the car park, pushing homes close to the pub walls.

Mr Lamb said that a clause exists whereby developers will have to soundproof the eastern side of the pub before houses are built, but he has seen no details of such a plan.

He added: “It’s the fact that we are a hotel – we have letting rooms on that side and if these houses are going to be as close as they seem, people will be looking out over the new homes and gardens.

“The plans before were not a brilliant idea but they were probably acceptable. It looked like the bowling green would be left as a kind of village green, but the new plans are ridiculous.”

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s planning department is currently considering the plans, submitted in January.