Local pub in Plymouth could be saved by new law
A NEW law could be used to save a community pub from being sold off as student accommodation.
It would be the first such use in Plymouth of the Localism Act, which became law this year – but city lawyers need to "stop dragging their heels", says a councillor backing the bid.
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Bill Light, right, landlord of The Friendship Inn, with Cllr Steve Ricketts. They fear the pub could become student rooms
The Friendship Inn in Greenbank is threatened with closure after its owners went into liquidation. Pubfolio Ltd, which owned 219 tenanted pubs, collapsed in 2009.
The administrators, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, put the Friendship on the market with Christie and Co for £165,000.
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Last night Christies said the property on the corner of Amity Street and Armada Street was under offer.
Landlord Bill Light fears that the pub could be turned into student rooms. He has enlisted the support of regulars, and local councillor Steve Ricketts to help save the pub, where he has been the manager for nearly 17 years.
Cllr Ricketts said: "The Localism Act allows the council to save community hubs. We are using this new law to try to save a pub that has been there for generations.
"But the council's Legal Services department needs to stop dragging its heels."
He and Mr Light have gathered nearly 50 signatures and presented a request to the council. "We are losing all community facilities and hubs," Mr Ricketts said. This pub has been there since 1840 and we want to keep it. Bill wants to take it on.
Mr Light, who lives in the two-bedroom flat above the pub, said: "I believe Christies has had bids from people who want to turn it into accommodation.
"They would be taking something out of the community that the community does use." He said he was trying to raise the money to buy the pub himself.
A council spokeswoman said that under the Community Asset part of the Localism Act a building or piece of land could be listed, which would allow the community to find a way to buy it on the open market.
"This is a new area of law for local authorities and we are finalising criteria.
"Legal Services appreciates the need for speed. However we have explained to Cllr Ricketts that before we validate a nomination application we need details and evidence about the community body putting the proposal forward.
"Cllr Ricketts has provided some of the information required but not the detail of how this body is run."
Comments
by cashlift
Sunday, December 02 2012, 7:53PM
“TRUDIE 2010 , once again you open mouth before engaging brain , when did the pennycomequick look , untidy scruffy & neglected /it was making money before it was closed down , but once again you do not know the full story before posting ,
So please engage brain before opening mouth , thank you”
by trudie2010
Sunday, December 02 2012, 3:18PM
“cashlift, as opposed to looking like an untidy scruffy neglected pub, wonderful.”
by cashlift
Sunday, December 02 2012, 1:12PM
“the lovely Pennycomequick pub is now student accommodation , what a shame ,it now looks ugly with a washed out banner advertising the fact it is a student let”
by jaygeek1
Sunday, December 02 2012, 11:09AM
“I think the council should buy it and then long term lease it to Bill Light. Make it a viable business !
I daresay there is a way to turn a profit out of this whilst maintaining the historic nature of the building.”
by timplymouth
Saturday, December 01 2012, 9:15PM
“What a speculative article.
A) No-one has indicated who has bought the pub
B) No-one has indicated what they intend to do with it”
by paulmh66
Saturday, December 01 2012, 7:31PM
“Too many pubs are becoming student flats. I say save this pub and all others by using this new law and objecting to the planning permission when it's posted for approval. Plymouth will end up a a student village in a minute with no hope for new jobs for the older generations if we are not careful. There is plenty of student flats already going unused so why build more and put the smaller landlords out of business. Student flats don't generate jobs for locals or incomes for the masses. Also, the university is building flats on campus so it might be a waste of time building more off campus.”
by lweston
Saturday, December 01 2012, 4:11PM
“If the Landlord was that interested or that concerned or wanted to take it on why didnt he/ they bid for the property.
He must have known the suituation,
As for fearing it could be used for students then I am sure that can be classed as racial discrimination after all the students could be from europe carribean, asia. africa, china etc etc.”