ABOUT THIS BLOG

This popular and historic pub was acquired by its owners in 2009 with a view, initially, to building flats for social housing and then subsequently developing a small housing estate. Local residents opposed these plans from the start.

Planning permission was granted in 2010 after which the site was put up for sale. After many years of inactivity, building work finally started in July 2015. Locally, this was seen as good news. However, the houses have yet to be completed.

The aim of this Blog has been to keep residents informed of current developments and to record the long history of this small community's fight to keep its pub.

Friday, 25 November 2011

New Planning Application: Amendment

We'd been expecting an amendment to the planning application for a week or so and now it has finally come through.  We've now received notification from SBC that the amendment has been changed to read: "... before the proposed development commences but excluding demolition work."

As we suggested in an earlier post, it looks very much like the owners want to knock the pub down to make the site easier to sell but don't want to have to pay for any of the work required to comply with the conditions of the planning permission.  And that's what the amendment seems to be all about.

We are still trying to find out whether or not we will have to write in all over again or whether existing letters still count (we suspect the latter).  Whatever the case, our view remains the same as before.  The owners started all of this and they should finish it by developing the site in accordance with the planning permission they have been granted.

If the pub is demolished, the site may remain undeveloped for some considerable length of time.  Not wishing to worry anyone unduly but here are some of the implications:
  • Threat of occupation by travellers
  • Impact of an unsightly demolition site on the local area
  • Potential health and safety issues
Our advice is to object again even if you have already done so.  We'll let you know as soon as we learn anything more.

Closing date for objections is now 11 December 2011.
Application ref: 11/16147/FUL
Case officer: Alan Lynch
Telephone no. 01785 649533

Here's a copy of the most recent letter from SBC.

2 comments:

  1. Well seen through, by you, John! Lets hope our Councillors can see through their latest tactic in trying to get around their obligations. Why these applicants think they can keep changing the goal posts is beyond reason! The Planning committee will surely make them comply with condition 19 to ensure that these applicants have the finances to complete all the necessary work. Condition 19 presently means that before they start messing around on the site they have to provide details in writing for approval by the Council, for road construction, street lighting drainage, etc. They should not be allowed to get away with this.

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  2. This whole situation would make an interesting TV documentary!

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