A NEW food shop could be built in the grounds of a pub in Didcot.

Punch Taverns has put forward the proposal for a convenience store in the gardens of the Wheatsheaf, in Wantage Road.

A planning application has been submitted to South Oxfordshire District Council.

Kelly Beard, the landlady of the pub, declined to comment. The land and pub is owned by Punch Taverns.

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Only part of the land around the pub would be needed for the shop and it is understood staff hope that the pub will not be affected by the development.

Clifford Oakes, of Park Road, the founder of the Thong Rangers charity group, said he hoped the pub would still be a destination for families in the area.

The father-of-two added: “It’s a lovely family pub and the Rangers have held a number of events there over the years – the staff have been very supportive.”

The shop would be separate from the pub, with opening hours between 8am and 10pm, Monday to Sunday.

Punch Taverns said it was in talks with a company to run the shop, but would not reveal which firm it was.

Town councillor Margaret Davies said: “It’s a shame that the pub is losing part of its garden but at least the pub is not closing – it’s quite popular.

“This is an unusual application and I think people will be intrigued by it.”

Punch Taverns spokes-man Dave Pawson said: “As part of our strategy for the Wheatsheaf and the surrounding land, we have earmarked a spend of over £170,000 to refurbish and develop the pub in the first quarter of 2015.

“We have also submitted a planning application for the development of a retail unit on part of our land, which will be entirely separate to the pub.

“We are in advanced negotiations with a potential operator of the retail unit, but at the moment the detail of those negotiations will remain private and confidential.“ A survey report presented to the council said: “The proposed new development is to comprise a single building, providing a retail food store on the grassed area to the west of the pub building.

”The building will be set back from the road frontage, beyond an area of customer parking.

“The storage area will be located to the rear of the building, with access doors opening on to the delivery yard.

“Delivery vehicles will access the rear of the site via the existing access road and pub car park.”

It added: “All deliveries will occur during normal opening hours and will generally comprise general grocery deliveries on three days, frozen food deliveries on two days and smaller deliveries (fresh food, milk, bread and newspapers) on each day of the week.”

Councillors are expected to make a decision on the plan next month.

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