A DERELICT Dudley pub will be demolished to make way for an Aldi supermarket that will create 40 jobs.

The fate of the King Arthur pub was sealed at a meeting of the council's Development Control Committee on Monday (June 29).

Since it closed in 2012, the building, which is prominent on the main Birmingham New Road into Dudley town centre, has been subject to arson attacks and vandalism.

Many local residents were keen to see Aldi take over the shabby site and planners agreed, describing the pub as "eyesore" that had "reached the end of its natural life".

Councillor Colin Elcock said: "I have very fond memories of the King Arthur but time marches on. That pub has been empty for three years and in totally in agreement with the fact it should be pulled down and rebuilt as an Aldi store.

"I think nearby shops could benefit from the footfall Aldi will bring into the area, they might pick up trade from it."

Councillor David Vickers added: "I've passed this pub on many occasions over the years but I never called in for a drink and I think that was the problem, not many people did and it became unviable.

"I'm against demolishing buildings but I can't see another way of going about it, Aldi will be an improvement and revamp the eyesore that is there now."

Committee chairman Councillor Qadar Zada said: "The King Arthur has reached the end of its natural life. This site is not a true reflection of Dudley and it doesn't present a real image of what Dudley has to offer.

"We could sit here and mourn the pub or we could celebrate what might come from it. If this was a pub that could thrive, we wouldn't be having this debate.

"We want the message to be that Dudley is always open for business and will continue to be open for business and we will accept any reasonable offer to bring growth and prosperity."

Applause rang out from the public gallery as the committee approved the plan and the decision delighted Castle and Priory councillor Ken Finch, who said there had been "overwhelming" support for the supermarket.

Cllr Finch said elderly residents in particular expressed the need for a big store within walking distance and he believed the creation of at least 40 jobs would help tackle unemployment in the area.

Dudley North MP Ian Austin, who wrote to every household living within a mile of the site with a detailed survey asking for their views, said he was "pleased" councillors had listened to residents.

He added: "Over 900 people responded to my survey and more than eight in 10 said they supported the new development."

However Sedgley councillor Bill Etheridge was disappointed with the result.

Cllr Etheridge launched a petition to save the pub amid fears Aldi would increase traffic on the already congested Priory Road and have an adverse affect on smaller nearby businesses.

He told the News: "Of course the site currently looks a mess, but that doesn’t mean to say that this scheme is the answer.

"There is now the very real prospect of local job losses, as the smaller shops on Priory Road face a struggle to compete."

In a bid to address highways concerns, the discount retailer will fund improvements to the junction of Birmingham New Road and two pedestrian crossings to allow people to safely access the 1,000 sq ft store.