Council planners have decided to delay their decision on whether to allow an already built bar area and big screen at a village pub.

Councillors are set to visit the Brickmakers Arms in Balsall Common before giving their final verdict early next year.

The saga began after the Station Road pub put up a two metre perimeter fencing at the front, created an outdoor bar area in the beer garden and also put up a big screen on a raised platform.

The pub landlord Kevin McKloskey applied for retrospective planning permission but this was refused in March.

Officer Mark Andrews, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council's head of planning, design and engagement service, wrote the additions were: "Inappropriate, unsympathetic, incongruous and jarring – that are seriously harmful to both the character and appearance of the area, and to the setting of the listed building."

The landlord later submitted a revised application which was considered at the latest meeting of the authority's planning committee.

Planning officer Becky Stevens told the committee the application was identical apart from the perimeter fencing having been painted black.

The officer added the recommendation to the committee was again to refuse as the scheme fails visual impact and heritage tests.

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In the public speaking, Cllr Heather Delaney said: "The Brickmakers Arms is a listed building dating back to around 1680.

"Since the Brickmakers was taken over it has become a thriving pub once again and I don't want to see that change.

"The fencing being black is an improvement – it is not as noticeable as you pass the pub."

Mr McKloskey said: "We took over in November 2023, we took over a badly run pub.

"It was a bit of a no go zone. I live in the village, we have first hand knowledge of people's opinions.

"We found a fault with the fence. We rushed ahead with lots of investment, the bar amalgamated off the side of the fence because it's a beer garden and why not.

"The screen is a retractable device; it was never meant to stay. It may not stay, it is used periodically for certain events.

"The picture (of the fence shown to the committee) is incorrect – there is plantage in front of the fence.

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"We have had 25 letters of support and to date no objections apart from the heritage officer.

"We feel the reason we lost the last one was that we painted it white, we never should have.

"We think we have done everything we can. We now how a thriving pub in a village where pubs are closing."

Committee chairman Cllr Bob Grinsell asked if there was a more current picture, being told with the officer explaining the one used in slides was taken in March.

Cllr David Cole then said: "I would ask if this could be put back a month so we could get some new photos."

After saying he supported this Cllr Dave Pinwell said: "The critical thing is the view of the property – in the pre-fence days you have a nice soft view of the garden. It's that bit of the fence that really causes the problem.

"I would encourage Mr McKloskey, if we defer, to spend that opportunity to think about how that might be softened to the point where the black fence no longer becomes a jarring contrast to the heritage building."

Eight councillors voted in favour of deferment.

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The chairman quipped: "Can I request every member at some stage in the next month visits the site – not the inside of the pub."

The meeting was held at the Civic Suite on December 15.