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Campaigners celebrate victory in fight to prevent demolition of Otley pub
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| The boarded up Summercross pub. |
CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating a real community victory' after a scheme to demolish an Otley pub so that houses could be built on the site was thrown out.
Leeds City Council planners have rejected a Conservation Area application to knock down the Summercross pub, on East Busk Lane, which was suddenly closed last October.
The decision means Chartford Homes' linked proposal to build 14 terraced houses on the site will also fail, to the delight of pressure group Save Our Summercross (SOS) and Otley Town Council, who opposed the plan.
Otley's MP and SOS member Greg Mulholland said: "This is great news and a real victory for the community.
"SOS has done a great job leading the campaign, which has been supported by political represent-atives at all levels and community groups.
"I hope Chartford Homes will now accept that a development is not wanted here. They should have the good grace to walk away and allow someone to buy the Summercross and re-open it as a pub.
"The good of the community must come before making money for developers and I hope that before too long the Summercross will be serving its community again, the way it did for so many years."
SOS Chairman Shirley Lewis said: "We've won a battle, not the war, but this just shows what a group of people can do if they really feel strongly about something.
"Although they've refused demolition, and so this plan, it's the next move that's going to be interesting.
"I suspect Chartford Homes will change its plans to include the Summercross and perhaps convert it."
Town and ward Councillor Graham Kirkland (Lib Dem, Otley and Yeadon) also hailed the decision, while urging people not to get too carried away.
He said: "If they can't knock the pub down they can't proceed, end of story, so it is good news, although they could always try and convert it, of course, or appeal.
"I'm pleased and a lot of local residents will be happy that they are not going to smash their way through.
"I'm sure the developers will come back again because it will have cost them a lot of money to buy the site and they're not in the business of running pubs, so they'll have to either sell it to someone who does or put a different planning application in.
"But for now it's Residents 1, Chartford Homes 0'. It's a bit like David against Goliath, or Barnsley against Chelsea! And it shows that if enough people write in and are sensible you can win.
"On the other hand, it's only round one'."
Opponents of the housing scheme point to the fact that the pub was enjoying a new lease of life when it was closed, with former landlord and landlady and winning several awards.
Some residents, however, have voiced support for the housing scheme and warned that the alternative could be for the town to be left with a boarded-up eyesore'.
Chartford Homes was contacted by the Wharfedale & Airedale Observer but no-one was available to comment before the time of going to press.
8:43am Friday 14th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Richard, Otley on 9:30am Fri 14 Mar 08
Keep the pressure on.
Posted by: Tim, Wharfedale on 4:13pm Fri 14 Mar 08
I kep reading about this with amusement, if the pub was that busy, why did teh pub company sell it, and why didn't the landlord buy it himself. The two people i know who live close to the pub ar equite happy to see it go.
I kep reading about this with amusement, if the pub was that busy, why did teh pub company sell it, and why didn't the landlord buy it himself. The two people i know who live close to the pub ar equite happy to see it go.
Posted by: Steve Williams, Otley on 6:18pm Fri 14 Mar 08
Pity Mr Mulholland does put as much focus on the current scourge of binge drinking as he does on getting pubs re-opened. Do we not have enough pubs in town?. He claims he is Lib Dem, but his stance on this and on debt relief sounds more like old fashioned socialism or naivety in the extreme.
Pity Mr Mulholland does put as much focus on the current scourge of binge drinking as he does on getting pubs re-opened. Do we not have enough pubs in town?. He claims he is Lib Dem, but his stance on this and on debt relief sounds more like old fashioned socialism or naivety in the extreme.
Posted by: rob, otley on 6:18pm Fri 14 Mar 08
does oap kirkland think a pub co is going to take that dump on. look at the bowling green.
does oap kirkland think a pub co is going to take that dump on. look at the bowling green.
Posted by: Eric jones, Pool on 6:28pm Fri 14 Mar 08
Agree with Tim, if it was such a great place,why did the pub company sell it or the landlord not buy it. All we have now is another eyesore that will soon be full of druggies and chavs instead of people spending money in the local shops and the many other pubs in town. Nice one SOS and the council, you all need to get your heads out of the sand and look at things evenly rather than emotionally. Who else is interested? I only see 5-6 people any photos
Agree with Tim, if it was such a great place,why did the pub company sell it or the landlord not buy it. All we have now is another eyesore that will soon be full of druggies and chavs instead of people spending money in the local shops and the many other pubs in town. Nice one SOS and the council, you all need to get your heads out of the sand and look at things evenly rather than emotionally. Who else is interested? I only see 5-6 people any photos
Posted by: Richard, Otley on 10:37pm Sun 16 Mar 08
To Tim, Eric Jones and Rob: if you bothered to actually follow the story you would know it wasn't owned by a pub company. And if you feel so strongly about the Summercross you are more than welcome to come to the next meeting.
To Tim, Eric Jones and Rob: if you bothered to actually follow the story you would know it wasn't owned by a pub company. And if you feel so strongly about the Summercross you are more than welcome to come to the next meeting.
Posted by: Tim, Wharfedale on 11:17pm Sun 16 Mar 08
Richard,I am a businessman myself, so am probably slighly biased, but having researched this pub, and please correct me if i am wrong, Punch Taverns sold the pub to the current devlopers, and my recollection is that it has changed hands at least three times in the last five years. Not a good sign i am sure you will agree. For the record, i was interested in developing the site myself,hence my interest.
Richard,I am a businessman myself, so am probably slighly biased, but having researched this pub, and please correct me if i am wrong, Punch Taverns sold the pub to the current devlopers, and my recollection is that it has changed hands at least three times in the last five years. Not a good sign i am sure you will agree. For the record, i was interested in developing the site myself,hence my interest.
Posted by: Maureen, Otley on 5:57pm Mon 24 Mar 08
Coun Kirkland has done nothing to help stop the development but steps in at the last moment to take the credit and glory. I am a member of SOS and have never seen him.
Coun Kirkland has done nothing to help stop the development but steps in at the last moment to take the credit and glory. I am a member of SOS and have never seen him.
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