Notice on site of former Leeds pub

White Bear pub at Tingley has now closed.

The former White Bear pub site in Tingley was the subject of five failed applications by fast food giant McDonald’s to build a restaurant and drive-through.

But councillors from the Morley Borough Independents (MBI) group say the site has fallen into disrepair, and become an eyesore in the community for residents living nearby.

After consulting with Leeds City Council, the group says a Section 215 planning notice is to be served on the owners of the site.

It comes after months of campaigning from residents and councillors across the district.

Coun Judith Elliott (MBI, Morley South) told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “We have persuaded the Council to serve a Section 215 notice on the owners of the site.

“The notice places a legal obligation on the owners to undertake significant levels of work on the site to prevent it negatively impacting on the residential amenity of local residents.”

Coun Elliott said the site is owned by Matterhorn Capital.

Following a lengthy planning saga, the final decision of a planning inquiry in May ruled that an appeal by McDonald’s to build a new restaurant and drive-through with parking at the site had been dismissed.

Coun Elliott said that following the failed planning bids by McDonald’s, councillors have been working with the owners to discuss the possibility of future developments at the former pub site, but nothing has yet been finalised.

Simon Conway, chief operating officer at Matterhorn Capital, said: “We are disappointed that we have failed to find a suitable solution to date.”

He said the company is organising a meeting with Leeds City Council before the Christmas recess.

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