Renewed plan to turn old pub into holiday flats will still face opposition
A HISTORIC pub at the centre of a row over its closure and conversion into holiday accommodation will come before planners again.
An application has been received by Cyngor Gwynedd for the change of use of the ground floor of the Vaynol Arms from a public house into two holiday lets.
The latest proposal, filed on March 5, is a resubmission of one rejected last year, after planners called for more ‘sufficient information.’
The historic tavern and coaching inn dates back to the mid-18th century and once formed part of the Faenol Estate.
It is located at the centre of the hamlet of Pentir, near Bangor, along the A4244.
The former Robinsons hostelry was closed several years ago amid ‘a decline in trade,’ the current owner said.
The planning documents also cited a former landlord ‘who had no option but to sell their lease back to the brewery primarily due to a low turnover, general lack of local support, the cost of opening...’
But residents had strongly rallied to try and save their village inn by forming an action group.
It was hoped eventually they might obtain the property for use as a community hub pub, but it was bought from Robinsons Brewery by businessman Duncan Gilroy.
Since then, no agreement by the group and owner over any potential purchase or lease of the building had been reached, and it has remained closed ever since.
The owner has since developed accommodation on the upper floor, and now seeks permission to develop the ground floor for holiday lets.
Harry Hambleton, of the Pentir Action Group, said the community would again be ‘strongly objecting’ to the latest planning application.
“He has already converted the upper floor to Airbnb accommodation and wishes to convert the downstairs which will impact the already numerous establishments that already provide that service locally,” Mr Hambleton said.
He added the group would ‘fight this proposal every time,’ saying it was a ‘necessary facility and a historical asset that should be enjoyed by everyone.’
Mr Gilroy said he understood the community’s ‘love for the idea of having a village pub again,’ but said it had just not been possible to keep it running due to declining trade.
“It just wasn’t viable,” he said.
But he claimed an accommodation letting business had proved to be ‘very successful.’