Campaign to save pub continues with petition

A CAMPAIGN to save a Coventry pub which has been closed continues with a petition now calling for the council to force the pub’s owners to secure the building.

The Save The Grapes Hotel group created the petition last week, claiming that despite the Radford building’s status as an Asset of Community Value - which gives it extra protection from development - it is being left to fall into disrepair.

They claim that since it was boarded up and left vacant in May, the roof has been stripped of lead and several break-ins have led to interior damage.

It has also been alleged by the group that the owner “does not appear to have taken any real steps to securing the site against trespass or to keep it weather-tight”.

Campaigners have now called on Coventry City Council to use statutory powers to force the pub’s owners to secure the building and carry out repairs.

The petition lodged by the group has already attracted 161 signatures, though the council has claimed that they are not aware of any issues surrounding the building’s condition.

However, the authority has said it will inspect the former Radford Road pub and contact the owners if any work to secure the site is necessary.

The council are able to secure improvements to land and buildings using planning enforcement powers, and in some cases, they are able to require repair work to be carried out by owners.

Currently, the future of the pub is up in the air, having closed its doors on May 3 - a move which took locals by surprise.

It came as a planning application to demolish the pub and turn it into 33 flats was submitted by an agent on behalf of the owners.

Arguing the value of the pub to the local community, a demonstration was held outside the venue by campaign group “Save the Grapes” on Saturday, May 18.

The protest, along with a huge 35-page document submitted to Coventry City Council detailing their objections to the plans, appeared to have the desired effect - as the planning application was refused.

In a report, head of planning Tracy Miller said “there is no justification for the loss of the building”, noted as a heritage asset and a community facility. She also cited concerns over highway safety, flooding, design, ecology, a lack of affordable housing and unsuitable infrastructure.

The decision means the pub cannot be demolished without planning consent, offering a degree of protection. Later in the year, the group successfully managed to get the pub listed on the council’s Asset of Community Value list granting it extra protection against any future demolition plans.

The petition, listed on change.org , reads: “The Grapes closed suddenly on May 3rd this year, bringing an abrupt halt to its service to the Radford community for nearly 80 years.

“Coventry City Council recognised its value to the community by refusing a planning application for demolition and replacement with flats in

late May. This was bolstered shortly after by its listing by the Council as an Asset of Community Value under the Localism Act in June.

“The site has been boarded up and left vacant since May. In June and July the roof was stripped of its lead and several break ins have seen a great deal of damage to the interior.

“The owner does not appear to have taken any real steps to securing the site against trespass or to keep it weather-tight.

“We, the undersigned, petition Coventry City Council to use its statutory powers under any of the relevant legislation available to require the owner to secure the building and to carry out sufficient repairs to ensure that it does not continue to deteriorate.”

In response, a spokesman for Coventry City Council said: “The building currently appears secure and we are not aware that it is in an unsafe condition.

“Officers will be inspecting the property shortly and will be contacting the owners to secure further boarding up and improvements to the fencing if considered necessary.

“If people believe the building is in an unsafe state they can contact us and we will make sure that it is inspected by our Building Control Team.

“We do have planning enforcement powers to secure improvements to the condition and appearance of land and buildings and in some cases, depending on a building’s condition and its effect on the surrounding are, we can require repair work to be carried out by the owner.”