Review Proposed Changes of The Temple Bar (Temple St, East Oxford) to a Chain Owned Shisha Restaurant

We, the undersigned, are concerned about the changes occurring to The Temple Bar property, and kindly ask the relevant departments within Oxford City Council and our local Councillors to investigate and address our concerns. These are:-

1. THE CHANGE OF THE TEMPLE BAR INTO A CHAIN OWNED SHISHA RESTAURANT.
2. LOSS OF DIVERSITY OF PUBLIC SERVICES IN EAST OXFORD. THERE IS AN INCREASING MONOCULTURE - RESTAURANTS TAKING OVER FROM PUBS.
3. LOSS OF ANOTHER PUB & ORIGINAL HISTORICAL USE. They may never ever come back!
4. QUESTIONS OVER THE ‘APPROPRIATENESS’ OF HAVING A RESTAURANT IN A RESIDENTIAL STREET PREVIOUSLY WITH LOCAL PUB.
5. LOSS OF IMPORTANT VENUE FOR – POOL, DARTS AND TABLE FOOTBALL TEAMS, OPEN MIC AND LIVE MUSIC VENUE.
6. THE ADDITION OF AN EXTERNAL SEATING AREA TO THE FRONT – Potentially significant implications on the general vibe of the resident street and noise levels from diners and smokers. Does the property have existing permission for this activity?
7. DRAMATICALLY INCREASED OPENING HOURS – THE PLAN IS TO BE OPEN ALL DAY LONG INCLUDING SERVING BREAKFAST.
8. INCREASED STRAIN ON PARKING
9. INCREASED REGULAR FOOD DELIVERIES ON SMALL NARROW STREET.
10. INCREASED STRAIN ON A STREET ALREADY LIMITED BY IT’S SMALL SIZE AND BY AN UNUSUALLY HIGH NUMBER OF BUSINESSES AND PUBLIC FACILITIES ALL SHARING THE SPACE WITH THE RESIDENTS.
11. MANAGEMENT OF FOOD REFUSE & LITTER BLOWN INTO STREET AND GARDENS
12. LOSS OF THE HISTORICAL CHARACTER OF THE BUILDING ESPECIALLY TO THE FRONT ELEVATION – Plans are to remove the original pub lettering ‘THE TEMPLE BAR’, potentially remove the original front door, and render over the existing original brickwork.
13. ADDITION OF SIGNAGE, NEW FRONT DOOR, RENDERING AND OTHER FEATURES – Potentially not in keeping with the building’s Victorian character & it’s surrounding neighbourhood.
14. ADDITION OF LIGHTING TO THE FRONT ELEVATION & SEATING AREA – in particular, plans are to have uplighters in the patio – is this appropriate given the street’s residential nature?

We ask for due consideration on all of these issues, and hope that we have the right to Appeal the change from a pub to a restaurant. In the worst case, we hope that:
(a) we have the right to appeal the use of the front area being turned into a patio, for outside eating and drinking, on the grounds of change of the existing street vibe, and increased noise.
(b) we have the right to appeal the proposed increased opening hours – including serving breakfast.
(c) if we cannot appeal that, that we can be consulted about imposing restrictions over an earlier closing time for the front patio area.
(d) we can be closely consulted over the physical changes to the front elevation and front area, particularly in respect of loss of original Victorian features, and addition of signage and lighting, to ensure that it is in keeping with the Victorian residential character of the Street.

In the event that the plans to the property comply with all existing plans and permissions and regulations, then WE ASK THAT THE TEMPLE BAR SITUATION CAN BE CONSIDERED AS AN INDIVIDUAL CASE AND OUR CONCERNS GIVEN DUE WEIGHT.

We ask that the case is considered in light of the imminent review of the Development Management Document (which covers area planning & land use) – specifically the proposed inclusion of side streets along the Cowley Road in the Use Classes Order (which presently only covers the Cowley Road itself) – and consideration in light of the proposed Review of Public House Policy.

WE ASK FOR REVIEW OF THE POLICY THAT CONSIDERS PUBS AND RESTAURANTS TO BE THE SAME LAND USE. They are clearly not – with widely varying implications and disturbances on the surrounding area and residents.