A Kenilworth bistro on a closed town centre street has applied to keep its outside seating.

Warwickshire County Council (WCC) signed off on plans to permanently shut the end of Station Road earlier this year, following nearly two years of the temporary closure.

And while town councillors continue to decide what will happen to the road - with a temporary pocket park currently in place - Pomeroys Bistro has applied for permission to keep its existing outside seating.

According to the plans submitted to Warwick District Council, the eatery will keep its existing eight tables and 16 chairs, making no changes to the existing set up.

The application says the outdoor seating would be available to customers from 8.30am to 10.30pm Monday to Wednesday, 8.30am to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and then from 9am to 5pm on Sundays.

If approved, the pavement license would be in place for 12 months.

New laws on pavement licences were brought into effect in the summer of 2020 to make it easier for businesses to apply for permission to put furniture outside during the pandemic.

Kenilworth Town Council has previously considered the idea of completely pedestrianizing the end of Station Road, and encouraging local businesses to set up more tables and chairs in the street.

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When discussing the road prior to the May elections, councillors said local people and businesses need to be involved in choosing what is built there.

A pocket park has been built at the closed end of Station Road (image by James Smith)

Members recommended the new council should open a public consultation.

"There needs to be a proper consultation," said Cllr Andrew Milton at the meeting in April.

"And that consultation should create a brief for how the space should be best utilised and used, so there is a really clear purpose and we spend the money in the right way to enhance the town centre."

Cllr James Kennedy added: "Now we have got the order, this is clearly something that should be picked up by the new council [following the May elections] to discuss with residents and other businesses around there to see what is most appropriate. 

"Just to leave it as a blocked road doesn't look very good. 

"But it is for the new council to pick up."

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The county council announced in February that the road would be shut permanently, following a public consultation that was criticised by town councillors.

The scheme had the backing of the town council, while the county's consultation early last year led to letters both in favour and against.

Meanwhile a survey of Nub News readers - which had more responses than the council's consultation - also found locals were split evenly on whether Station Road should remain shut.

The county council hailed the success of a temporary road closure which was aimed at reducing collisions and near misses.

Local residents can have their say on Pomeroys' application here.