A meeting will take place for residents to air views on a controversial plan to knock down a well-loved building for a new mini supermarket and restaurant.

The owners of the Bay Leaf Lounge, on Wellington Road, want to demolish the current building – the former Waggon and Horses pub – and replace it with a new purpose built venue. The new building would house a Sainsbury’s Local on the ground floor, with the restaurant taking up the first floor.

The planning application has been ‘called in’, meaning the decision will no longer be made by planning officers at Cheshire East but will go before the Northern Planning Committee.

Residents have objected for reasons including traffic, safety and car parking and some say they don’t want another supermarket. There is also concern that the landmark building will be demolished. Bollington Town Council will host a public meeting on the plan to give residents the chance to air their views.

Town clerk David Naylor said: “It will enable members of the community to discuss this matter with Town Council members in a public forum. We will also be feeding back information from our discussions with Cheshire East.

“We hope to be able to provide a date at the public meeting as to when the Northern Area Committee will meet to determine the application.”

The meeting is on Monday, September 21, 7.45pm at Bollington Cross School.

The next day the Town Council will meet at 7pm at Bollington Town Hall to draw up its recommendation on the application to Cheshire East planners.

Space at this meeting is limited to about 40 members of the public.

The deadline for comment on the plan has been extended to September 22, giving people more chance to lodge their comments.