Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Bid to stop homes plan for pub ends in bitter defeat
The long fight to save a historic village pub has finally ended in defeat after a planning inspector ruled it could be converted into two homes.
Villagers in Wingham are said to be devastated that their campaign to reopen the 13th century Red Lion has failed.
They had fought “tooth and nail” to stop it being converted and even had the backing of celebrity baker Paul Hollywood, who lives in the village and offered to buy the pub, but after a planning inquiry, an inspector has now ruled against the objectors.
In his report, he concludes the effect on the listed building is “acceptable and justified” and the change of use to residential would “further the need to boost the supply of housing”.
The applicant, HTW construction/towns Hotels, lodged the appeal on the grounds that Dover District Council had taken too long to decide the application.
When the authority did finally make a decision, it narrowly voted in favour of the conversion, but by then the planning appeal process was under way and the developer chose to pursue it and claim costs against the council.
Alex Lister, who led the campaign to save the pub, said villagers were “gutted” by the decision.
He said: “The residents have fought tooth and nail to preserve a pub that has been at the heart of the village for generations, and we’re bitterly disappointed by the result.
“We do not understand how the developers were able to persuade Dover council there were no offers to buy and run the pub again, when this flies directly in the face of the facts.”
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.
They claimed the process was thwarted because the new owner of the building would not allow potential buyers access to it but developers claimed that the offers were “not credible” and consistently maintained the pub, which closed in 2014, was no longer viable.
A scheme to convert the Three Tuns at Staple into a home and build more houses on the site is expected to be decided by Dover District Council on December 15.
It follows an amendment to the proposals which the planning committee chairman deemed should be put out to further public consultation.
Officers had recommended refusal on grounds that included over development of the land. The scheme was also opposed by Staple Parish Council.
The applicants, Alistair and Ralph Noel, say the deferment has given them time to “tweak” the application to meet the planners’ concerns, including reducing the number of homes to eight.
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