A former councillor and employee of Hay Shire Council, Roger McGrath has labelled the draft Lachlan Street Upgrade Master Plan as one which will stifle existing businesses and restrict future development in the main street.

An amended application for the demolition of the former ANZ Bank building was approved by Council at its recent meeting, which will see the entire structure being pulled down.

This comes after Council imposed a condition that the remaining front wall be subject to engineer designed support.

“I considered this condition to be unnecessary,” the applicant, and owner of the building, Roger McGrath said.

A first-class restaurant facility, The Drunken Ram, has been approved for Lachlan Street, and demolition of the adjacent former ANZ Bank building will enable the developer to increase the footprint.