Bid to save the beer garden of to-be-razed pub
CALL TO RETAIN IT AS A COMMUNITY GRASSED AREA WHILE REST OF SITE IS BULLDOZED AND DEVELOPED
A CALL has been made to see a plan to demolish a once popular pub and build on the site changed so the premises’ old grassed beer garden can be kept and used by the community in Burton.
Horninglow resident Barry Martin is leading the call, saying be believes part of the site of The Coach House, which was formerly the New Inn, in Horninglow Road North, could be used by the community by turning its large beer garden into a community grassed area in a “urbanised part of town”.
The pub closed its doors for the final time during the first lockdown in March 2020 and has not reopened since.
Now plans have been submitted to East Staffordshire Borough Council to bulldoze the pub and build a new building to provide a mixed-use commercial and residential space along with parking.
The current plan would see the commercial and residential building situated in the middle of the site which would include removing the old grassed area beer garden.
However, Mr Martin believes with a few tweaks to the plan, applicant could still build on the site, but keep the old beer garden, which the community could use. It could even be used by the children from Horninglow Primary School, which is opposite the old pub.
He told the Burton Mail: “That area of Horninglow is very urbanised already and we don’t have much grassed spaces left so we should leave this area for the community.
“It could even by used by the school as a sports pitch or somewhere to play as it is only opposite.”
Premier Midland Developments has been contacted by the Burton Mail for comment on Mr Martin’s suggestion.
The applicants submitted a marketing report alongside its application which blamed the pub’s downfall on a long list of issues including the smoking ban, Covid-19, supermarkets selling cheap alcohol and changing social trends.
The pub has had a chequered history since 2013 when Burton firm Marston’s sold it on after being unable to find a tenant to lease the place.
Since then it has had four publicans move in hoping to turn it around, including the current owner. One tenant lasted just six months due to the business not making a profit, even thought they had a discounted rental rate, a report to the council has said.
A decision is due on the application in the next few months.
That area of Horninglow is very urbanised already and we don’t have much grassed spaces. Barry Martin