NEW life could be breathed into a pub which was once at the centre of major riots in Wrexham after it was revealed it could be turned into a Co-op store.
Violence broke out at the Red Dragon pub on the Caia Park estate in June 2003 after trouble flared between Iraqi Kurds and local residents.
It led to two nights of disorder which resulted in 50 people being jailed.
The business on Prince Charles Road continued trading, but was threatened with closure in 2011 as its owners said it was no longer making enough money.
The property has now been boarded up for several years and proposals have been unveiled to convert it into a 400 square metre convenience store.
Plans showing how the Red Dragon would look if plans to convert it into a Co-op go ahead. The Northhold Group
Representatives from Manchester-based property developers the Northhold Group said it would result in the Co-op relocating from its current shop situated 50 metres up the road.
In planning documents, they said: “The pub has been empty and boarded-up, although securely maintained, since attempts to revitalise it in 2011.
“Sold by Admiral Taverns, and most recently in private ownership it had become uneconomical due to structural changes in the licensed trade which has seen the loss of many traditional pubs.
“These include smoking restrictions, alcohol off-sales encouraging drinkers to stay at home, the greater popularity of large bars in town and city centres, and more recently the emergence of small pop-up bars or taps in shops and other commercial units.
“It is proposed to retain and convert the existing public house to form a single retail unit, with an extension to the front of the building to provide additional floorspace at ground floor and to provide a new shopfront.
“The replacement store will continue to function as a small, local food store meeting the day-to-day needs of Caia Park residents.”
Plans were previously submitted in a bid to turn the pub into a rehabilitation centre for people recovering from brain injuries.
However, the application was rejected by Wrexham Council because of concerns about the loss off the community facility, which was built in the 1960s.
Vanessa Warbrick from the Northhold Group said the latest scheme would result in new employment if it receives the go ahead.
She said: “If our application is successful, the new and improved store will help to create additional jobs in the town, due to a larger store being created.
“There will be a better product offering on sale, which gives customers an improved shopping range available locally, in addition to a better parking provision.
“We are hopeful that our proposals will be well received by the planning authority and local community, so that we can bring life back into a building, which has laid empty for quite some time.”
The proposals will be considered by the local authority at a later date.
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