A MOVE to open a new cafe and restaurant in a former chemist will be reviewed by councillors after concerns were raised over holes in walls and ceiling and breaches of fire safety standards.

The new Oak Cha Phe cafe and restaurant was set to open in the former Boots shop in Bearwood Road, Smethwick.

But plans to hand the new eatery an alcohol licence will be decided by Sandwell councillors after West Midlands Fire Service raised concerns over the state of the kitchen’s ventilation.

The council papers, which will be discussed Sandwell Council’s licensing committee on January 23, show a concerning list of safety issues with photographs indicating gaping holes in the walls and ceilings at the Bearwood Road property alongside shoddy insulation, missing fire alarms and inappropriate materials.

The fire service said its main worry with the application by Van Dong Nguyen was that building and fire regulations were not being met and lodged a grievance with licensing officers at Sandwell Council over its concerns for public safety. 

The fire service was also concerned the new kitchen did not meet building regulations.

In an objection, the concerned fire safety officer said: “The premises used to form part of 612 to 614 Bearwood Road and was Boots Chemist. The premises have now changed … and [are] subdivided and have vacant flats above which are under refurb. 

“Building regulation permissions for these changes do not appear to have been secured and I cannot confirm if structural fire separation, structural loading, suitable fire alarm or the safety of the kitchen installation is adequate. 

“I do have concerns that the premises may not have suitable separation.”

The proposed opening hours are 8.30am to 9.30pm with the application asking for permission to sell alcohol between 10.30am to 9pm every day.

Sandwell Council granted permission for the former Boots store to be converted into new shops and flats a year ago – an application that originally included installing new kitchen ventilation and equipment but was later left out following an intervention by Sandwell’s public health department and it was decided the new units would stay as retail. 

Another application followed nine months later that now included the previously omitted ventilation and was subsequently approved by council planners in November.