Villagers at risk of losing one of their pubs have formed a society in an attempt to prevent the building being converted into an upmarket holiday let.
Published:
5:30 AM May 26, 2021
Members of the Five Bells Inn Preservation Society outside the Five Bells Inn in Upwell. Pictured left to right: John Delaney, Graham Seaton, David Cooper, Heather Utteridge and Tom Walczak.
- Credit: David Cooper
A local community has formed a society to prevent their pub from being turned into a holiday let following a groundswell of support for it to remain a public house.
A statement on behalf of owners Christopher Robinson and James Brighty said following refurbishment in 2018 it has failed to make a profit and they decided to close in March 2020 following substantial losses .
The change of use has been met with strong opposition from the local community and The Five Bells Inn Preservation Society (FBIPS) was set up as a result with the aim of securing the premises as an asset of community value (ACV).
Agents for the owners told the council that the ACV application will be challenged.
The council accepts the view thee pub may not have been profitable under the current ownership/ management.
However they also the agents that “it may be able to be so under other proprietors or there may be alternative community uses for that building, and this has not been investigated”.
The council view is that they have not been provided with “sufficient evidence / justification that it is not viable or feasible to retain this as a community facility use”. They have asked the agents to provided additional information.
Agents for the owners told the council that the ACV application will be challenged.
The council accepts the view thee pub may not have been profitable under the current ownership/ management.
However they also the agents that “it may be able to be so under other proprietors or there may be alternative community uses for that building, and this has not been investigated”.
The council view is that they have not been provided with “sufficient evidence / justification that it is not viable or feasible to retain this as a community facility use”. They have asked the agents to provided additional information.
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