Plans approved for Shropshire Smokehouse

Hickory's Smokehouse will be bringing it's first restaurant to Shropshire after plans have been approved by the company.

The firm will build a restaurant from scratch on land at The Rock, opposite Old Park roundabout in Telford.

The company, which serves Deep South style American barbecue food, has seven branches across the West Midlands and the North West.

On Wednesday evening, a meeting was held to decide on the build, which will create up to 100 jobs.

Leon Murray, Hadley & Leegomery councillor, said: "We are building a city here in Telford and we need facilities like this.

"We need people and businesses to come here and we need the right facilities coming here to help create this.

"I believe this is going to help and it is what Telford needs and for that reason I support this new restaurant."

Peter Millar, Hickory's Smokehouse planning agent, said: "I want to address the comments made by local people.

"We have eight other venues, seven of which are closer to residential houses, and we have had no problems over noise, smell, or traffic disturbances at any of these sites.

"We will have an entrance that is always manned to distinguish any anti-social behaviour that may occur and we have altered our opening times as we do not plan on being a late night drinking establishment.

"We want to offer a great service to this growing town and provide a community hub, a pub and a great eating experience."