Council planners call time on village pub
A VILLAGE pub will be “lost forever” after councillors opted to vote against planning advice.
The Woolpack pub in Main Street, Claypole, has been closed since August of last year and the owner, Rachel Coulson, who also lives at the property, applied to change the use of the building to residential.
Miss Coulson explained her reasons at a planning meeting on Tuesday.
She said: “Up until two years ago I had a very successful business but it became apparent when the smoking ban came in that we lost lots of customers.
“I feel I have done everything possible to bring customers in.
“It is the hardest thing I have ever had to do and it has broke my heart but it was do this or go bankrupt and I have to put my family first.”
Miss Coulson also said a new pub offering two-for-one meals had opened just down the road which made matters even worse.
The property had been valued two years ago at £500,000, added Miss Coulson, but a recent valuation put the worth at £375,000.
Councillor Joyce Gaffigan led councillors on a site visit to the pub.
She said: “What I saw was a sad little pub that could be turned into a nice little house. I honestly believe she could not get anyone to buy it.”
However, officers warned against councillors accepting the proposal, arguing not enough had been done to show the pub could not be sold at its market value while warning, “once the use is changed it is lost forever”.
Councillor Reginald Howard said: “There is nothing more sad than a closed down church but running a close second is a closed down pub.
“But the officers know in their heart of hearts that there is no chance of her selling this business.”
Councillors voted to approve Miss Coulson’s proposal by 13 votes to one, with two abstentions.
The village still has one pub - The Five Bells Inn.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Grantham
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.