CAMPAIGNS
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CAMPAIGNS
The Pubs Group has been and is involved in a number of campaigns about pub closures and redevelopments. A brief description of three of the campaigns we are currently involved in follows:
The 18th-century Lamplighters pub in Shirehampton closed its doors at the start of 2010 and has been left standing empty ever since. The pub is in a great location on the riverside in quiet surroundings within a few minute's walk of the railway station and close to a park and ride bus service. It has extensive premises located over three storeys, a car park and a large garden.
Originally the owner, Enterprise Inns, promised to renovate and reopen the pub and said a new landlord would be moved in. But in May 2010 the building was put up for sale, prompting fears that it could be demolished to make way for flats or housing (as the sale details included the phrase “offering a variety of potential uses, subject to planning permission").
The local MP (Charlotte Leslie) and the Pubs Group have been campaigning to save this pub. The MP organised an online petition and wrote to and met with the regional Enterprise management about the future of this pub. The Pubs Group and the MP issued a joint press release, which was reported by the Evening Post. There have been articles in other media.
The Lamplighters was then bought by Churchill Property Group, who intend to run it as a pub and have asked Melrose to advertise for a licensee. The MP and members of the Pubs Group met with Churchill Property Group. This Evening Post article summarises the meeting and the current position.
Churchill Property displayed plans to build 5 houses on part of the pub's grounds to local residents and the Pubs Group. Their intention is to use some of the profits from the house sales to renovate the pub. A planning application was submitted and approved by the City Council. Churchill Property have now put the freehold of the pub up for sale.
The Farriers Arms is a prominent mid Georgian building on Fishponds Road, which has been a pub since 1872. It closed in October 2010 and was bought by Morrisons Supermarkets. Morrisons put in a planning application to demolish the pub and replace it by an extension of their current Fishponds store.
The group and local members submitted objections to this planning application. Members of the group had been lobbying the local MP (Kerry McCarthy) and local councillors about this. They also co-ordinated efforts with other community groups (such as Living Easton) who opposed this application
Morrisons have recently withdrawn their planning application. The Pubs Group will be writing to Morrisons' Head of Estates to suggest that Morrisons run the Farriers as a pub. We await developments.
The Iron Bridge (formerly the Progress) is a large 1930‘s estate pub in an area of North Bristol with very few pubs. It closed in 2010 and a planning application (11/00880/F) was submitted to convert the pub into a children’s nursery and build housing.
The group and individual members submitted objections to this planning application. Members of the group also lobbied local councillors about this. The planning application was recently accepted (subject to conditions).
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