Bid launched to stop pub conversion

Adrian Edwards (Con, Falkland), who raised objections to the plan to turn the Wellington Arms, Andover Road, into four flats, said that he was unaware of his own council’s previous ownership.
“I am very surprised,” he said. “It would have been good to know that the council owned the freehold. It’s one of the last historic pubs in Newbury and I will be calling it in [to the planning committee] if it’s not too late.”
The council sold the freehold for the site in June, and although information about the new owner has not been revealed, developer Vokins lodged the application to redevelop the site in July.
A spokeswoman for West Berkshire Council, Peta Stoddart-Crompton, said: “The council did not own the building or the lease of the site and sold the freehold only on June 13, 2013, for a small sum, as there was no particular need to retain ownership of this interest.”
The original lease on the Grade II-listed building dates back to 1761 and the pub itself has a colourful history, being the seat of the old City area of Newbury’s ‘alternative mayor’. The elections involved candidates being locked in a club room and fed an explosive cocktail of bacon, beans and beer, and the first person to feel the consequences of this potent meal was then declared mayor.
However, local history may not be enough to save the pub, according to the chairman of West Berkshire Campaign for Real Ale, Richard Scullion.
He said: “We are just accepting that drinking habits are changing, but I don’t think the historic intrigue is enough to save it, which is a pity.”
Mr Scullion added that Camra was always sad to see any pub go, but that there was a wide selection of traditional pubs in the area.
Mr Edwards move to save the pub follows a call from fellow councillor Royce Longton (Lib Dem, Burghfeld) who has urged residents to list their locals as assets of community value under the Community Right to Bid Scheme, introduced by the Localism Act.
Mr Longton, who saw his Burghfield Common local, The Rising Sun, converted into a Tesco store earlier this year, said that it would have been good for the community to have a chance at saving the pub, but admitted that not all cases would be successful.
Mr Scullion said that Camra was “100 per cent behind” Mr Longton’s call to list pubs, but added that the support had to come from the local community.
He said that there were two or threes pubs in West Berkshire that the group was looking to have listed.
Last week, Newbury Town Council raised no objections to the application.
A decision is expected from West Berkshire Council by October 14.