Campaign fails to save pub (From Salisbury Journal)

Campaign fails to save pub

10:33am Tuesday 5th March 2013 in News By Corey Ross

ATTEMPTS to save a Salisbury pub have failed after a planning inspector granted permission for housing to be built.

Residents and the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) have fought for the Butt of Ale pub at the Paul’s Dene estate to be reopened, and at a Wiltshire Council southern area planning meeting in October councillors said it should be given another chance.

But JJ Acquistions Ltd appealed against the committee’s decision, and planning inspector Geoffrey Hill has ruled the pub is no longer viable and has granted permission for four houses and car parking spaces on the site.

The pub has had a series of landlords in recent years who have tried to make it work but it closed again in March last year.

In his report Mr Hill said the applicant had produced evidence to show that the pub has not been viable for several years.

He said: “In the three years before closure trade had declined to a point where barrelage was about half that regarded as being viable. Efforts had clearly been made to give a new tenant an opportunity to reinvigorate the business, including a rent-free period. However, that did not result in a growth in the business to the point where costs would have covered outgoings.

“I recognise that the closure of any community facility is a matter of regret, and clearly those living in the vicinity of this pub would prefer it to be retained and reopened. However, if the existing facility is not viable and efforts to market the pub to attract a new owner or tenant have not been successful, then it has to be concluded that rejecting the appeal proposal is not going to result in the facility being reopened.”

He said the evidence put forward meant the pub was not a viable business and allowed the appeal.