Sunderland seafront pub's fury after double yellow lines are painted in wake of lockdown

Grannie Annie’s, in Marine Walk in Roker, says its bosses did not get the chance to object to the proposals due to the coronavirus.

They say they first heard about the scheme, which runs from Pier Cottages to outside their bar, in February and then by letter in mid-March, but with the business ordered to close just before Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued the lockdown on March 23, they were unable to respond.

The 18-month Sunderland City Council order, made on Thursday, July 16, brought in the restrictions from Monday, July 27, with no vehicles allowed to wait on that section and no loading allowed from 10.30am to 8pm.

The business, which says it has raised concerns with the council when the idea was first proposed, believes it will put people off from visiting, especially if it is raining or if people are unable to make the walk from the nearby car parks, which they say are 10 to 15 minutes walk away.

They believe the council should have helped to create more parking, using the space where the nearby shelter stands, rather than searching for a new business to move in.

Adam Straughan, who runs the venue with partner Stacey Karczewski, said: “The letter which first came was on March 17, then three days later we had to close down, then the date on another one was May 4.

"It’s been hard enough recently, and we’ve been here three years and worked hard to build up a reputation and to get people along.

"When the Illuminations were on, they closed off this road and we suffered massively, this is going to be the same, no one's going to come down here.

"Parking hasn’t really been a problem, everyone parks responsibly on the left-and side.”

Stacey added: “We spoke to the council and not heard anything back then, but it pretty much feels like they've gone ahead with it regardless.”

A council spokesperson said the authority has been made aware of the concerns.

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