Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Future of pub that Hollywood hoped to save is still in doubt
The fate of an historic pub which celebrity baker Paul Hollywood had offered to save and reopen will now be decided by a planning inspector.
It follows a decision by Dover District Council’s planning committee to approve a scheme to convert the former Red Lion at Wingham into two homes.
It is a blow to campaigners who have long fought to resist the change of use in a bid to see it returned as a pub. When the planning application was first submitted, Hollywood, who lives in the village, is said to have put in an offer to buy the 13th century pub which closed over two years ago, but did not get a response. The campaign was also backed by actor Neil Stuke.
Objectors had been given three months by the council to come up with a rescue plan and financial backing for the pub to prove it could still be a viable business.
But the applicant, HTW construction/towns hotels, lodged the appeal on the grounds Dover District Council had taken too long to make a decision. While approval. He said they were two people interested in buying the pub and restoring it, but they had not be allowed access to make a proper assessment and carry out of survey. In those circumstances, he argued, granting permission would go against the spirit of the previous committee hearing’s intentions to see if the pub might have a viable future.
But councillors agreed they had no powers to force the owner of the property to allow access to prospective buyers.
Afterwards Mr Lister said: “Although the application will now be decided by a planning inspector, the vote by members will carry some significant weight. I’m not overly confident and it doesn’t look good for us.
“It’s a pity because the vote was only 5-4 in favour and there were some different members at the previous hearing who were more sympathetic.”
Planning consultant for HTW Construction, Tim Flisher said: “The property was marketed for 10 months without a realistic offer and the council ordered a independent review of valuation, marketing and viability. The committee considered its findings and now the case is with the planning inspectorate.”