Concern over Tesco store plans for historic city community pub

The store project will create 20 new full and part time jobs for local people.

As there is only minor external works to be done and a straight-forward internal refit, Tesco says it would like to be able to open the store by the end of the year.

The application itself is for minor external works, small scale extensions and new plant to building including a new glazed entrance door; the refurbishment and replacement of all windows to match the existing ones; and the raising of external ground levels around the new entrance to provide level access.

Barrie Pepper wrote a book called Pubs of Character in 1987 which described Queen as having an “opulence that makes it stand our from the rest of the buildings on this busy main road”.

However, its best days are long behind it.

One regular recently told how he had to grope his way around in the dark as the lights were largely switched off to save money.

Tesco spokeswoman Deborah Hayeems said: “Customers tell us they love Tesco Express stores because they offer convenience and great choice on their doorstep and save them from making as many trips to the supermarket.

“Our proposals are for a very sensitive conversion of the attractive existing building, retaining and, where we can, improving the existing features.”

But the Liberal Democrat Hyde Park and Woodhouse councillor Penny Ewens is calling for Leeds City Council to act to stop the pub in her ward from becoming a supermarket.

She fears the scheme will drive trade away from independent shops in Woodsley Road, which has recently benefited from improvement works.

The pub, which is currently boarded up, has been continuously licensed since 1870 and has been a mainstay of the community in Burley for many decades.

Coun Ewens wants the council to look at the possibility of declaring the public house a heritage asset.

This enables local communities to take control over historic buildings or places that have significance to the local community.

She also gave her backing to a proposal currently being debated in the House of Lords that will give local councils more powers over development in high streets within their areas.

Coun Ewens said: “I am sure there are more avenues the council could be exploring to stop the Queen becoming a Tesco.

“The pub’s become a bit scruffy in recent years but it’s been part of the fabric of the community in that part of Leeds for a very long time.

“There’s a big danger that the Tesco will take away trade from the high street in Woodsley Road, which has had refurbishment work done recently.

“If we are able to get it declared a heritage asset then that would help secure its future within the community.

“There are also moves to give more powers to councils to secure the vitality and diversity of their high streets.

“Whilst I fear that this measure won’t come into force soon enough to save the Queen, I’m still very much in favour of it. It would at least help to put some kind of brake on our high streets becoming bland, uniform clones with no kind of local identity.”

In response to Coun Ewens’ comments, Tesco spokeswoman Ms Hayeems said: “Anyone passing the The Queen over the last year will have seen it being marketed as a community pub but we are informed that no offers were received.

“We think our plans will improve the facade of the building and provide a good convenience store for people in the immediate surroundings.”