Home plan for Shropshire pub thrown out again
Councillors have thrown out plans to turn a pub in Shropshire into a house for a second time, despite planning officer's recommending the scheme should go ahead.
Shropshire Council officers said the The Pheasant Inn, in Linley Brook, near Bridgnorth, which closed earlier this year, was unlikely to become a viable business again due to its location and size.
Councillors said owner Simon Reed had not made reasonable efforts to explore more diverse uses for the pub such as turning it into a bed and breakfast or the sale of food. They said the sale price was too high and the pub was an important asset to the community.
But Mr Reed said today: "The pub is not viable and that is why it has remained unsold for nearly five years and it will not reopen, like thousands of other pubs around the country."
Nearly 400 people commented on the plans, with 277 objecting to the proposals and 122 in support.
Planning permission was originally sought for a change to residential use in 2004. But that application was refused in October 2004 and an appeal was dismissed on the grounds that insufficient evidence had been presented.
In April 2008 a sale was agreed for £600,000, according to the report given to councillors, and a £10,000, 12 month option was paid, subject to planning permission, before the buyers went into liquidation.
Councillor Charlotte Baines said: "Just because the pub is a building should not mean it is definitely turned into a house. Other people should be given the opportunity to turn it into a pub again."
But Councillor William Parr said the owners had been running the pub for more than 30 years but had found the business to be no longer viable.
He said: "Last year their turnover was half of that achieved two years ago."
