Plan to double number of hotel bedrooms met with anger

PLANS to double the number of bedrooms at the Villaggio Hotel on Lovely Lane, Warrington, have been met with anger in the local community.

Warrington Borough Council planners have approved the proposals by the Villaggio Hotel to double the number of rooms from 25-50, replacing a redundant restaurant and bar area.

The applicants say the existing hotel is running at full capacity and the proposals will allow the hotel to use the underutilised ancillary spaces to provide additional much-needed accommodation.
Currently, the hotel offers accommodation only at first floor level with the ground floor currently not being used. The ground floor had previously been used for bar areas, restaurants, and functions. These ancillary uses are no longer a demand for the hotel as such are not longer required.

The proposal is for a change of use to the existing restaurant and bar areas on the ground floor of the hotel to become additional hotel rooms. The conservatory on the front elevation which serves the restaurant will be removed and alterations to the frontage will be made including the removal of two sets of doors on either side of the conservatory, to be replaced with
windows. A flat-roofed single-storey rear extension is also proposed. The conversion of the ground floor, internal alterations and the rear extension will provide an additional 25 bedrooms in addition to the 25 rooms on the first floor of the property.

The ground floor of the site of The Villaggio Hotel on Folly Lane is currently two disused restaurants. There is a mixture of uses surrounding the proposal site, with residential dwellings to the front and rear of the site, as well as along the eastern side. There is a mixture of uses, including a medical centre and car garage within close proximity to the site. Immediately to the west of the proposal site is a large car park, which is included within this proposal.

But the decision has angered local resident Abbey Taleb who took to social media to vent his anger.
He said: “What the hell is Warrington Council doing to Bewsey. I have recently found out what they have approved for Villaggio Hotel. A further 25 rooms, I am informed by the Manager that all rooms are going to be family rooms this means that the 50 proposed rooms could house upwards of 150 persons who are, I am informed Warrington’s homeless.
“I am not apposed to this in principle but within the distance of just a small area!”
He added: “These house are all on Folly Lane
1 HMO
3 HMO
5,7,9, Villaggio Hotel/ Hostel for upward of 150
11 HMO
13 HMO
15 HMO
17 HMO
The old Folly Lane Lane Post office. 12 room HMO
There more house next to post office converted to HMO.
There are several more on Folly Lane. Enough is enough!”
Other residents have also been complaining about rubbish at the hotel being left to pile high in skips.