Shropshire Star

Shropshire pub saved for village by mystery benefactors

A Shropshire village pub has been saved from being turned into homes.

Published
John Dyson, publicity officer for the Cross Keys Action Group, outside the pub

A local businessman and his wife have bought the Cross Keys at Kinnerley, near Oswestry, from a Midlands developer who had applied to turn the historic building into housing.

The unnamed couple will lease the pub, which has been shut for the past year, to the community so that it can be reopened as a pub and a village centre.

John Dyson, chairman of the Cross Keys Action committee, said he couldn't release the name of the two benefactors.: "Everyone in the community is absolutely delighted that the pub has been saved," he said.

"The benefactors will own the building but it will be run by the community, for the community," he said.

The pub closed after a small fire 12 months ago and the then owner put in planning applications, firstly for four houses on the grounds only and then to convert it into three homes building a fourth on the pub garden.

The listed building was then registered by Kinnerley Parish Council as a community asset, meaning it had the first chance to buy the building but only for a short period of time.

When the time lapsed it was feared the community has lost the chance to retain the pub.

Mr Dyson said the community now had to rally round and help ensure the Cross Keys had a successful future.

"It will take some time to see the pub reopen again. There will have to be work done inside and for that we shall have to apply for planning permission.

"We are not yet sure whether we will need to bring a manager in but whatever the future we will need the help of the community."

He said the fundraising that that taken place in the hope that the community could buy the pub would have to continue.

"We will still need the money to develop our plans," he said.

"The history of the building as a hostelry goes back to at least the 17th century with parts of the building going back hundreds of years before that."

Pubs have been closing at the rate of about 29 per week in the UK and many have been converted to private houses or convenience stores.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.