Dismay as Greenham pub is set to make way for housing

The application, submitted by Hackwood Homes Ltd, sought to knockdown the Blue Ball Inn in Greenham Road and replace it with eight houses, including two semi-detached two-bedroom houses and six three-bedroom houses, with 12 parking and 16 cycle spaces.
The decision to knock down the pub was made by West Berkshire planning officers last month despite objections from local councillors and pub enthusiasts.
Pubs officer for West Berkshire CAMRA, Glenn Parsons, said: “As an opposer of the demolition I am naturally disappointed that another pub is lost forever.
“It’s a real shame that we have lost this once thriving pub particularly with the huge number of houses being built a few hundred yards away at the Racecourse.
“Of course, drinking habits have changed over the years but Camra still feel that the pub is the best place to enjoy a drink and a chat and encourage everyone to make an effort to use your local, so that West Berks does not lose any more pubs. We have some fantastic pubs in our area and I would urge people to try them out.”
The Blue Ball, which has been a pub since 1830 but is not listed, has been closed since March 2011.
This is the seventh application in recent years to knock down the pub, with previous attempts being refused or withdrawn.
The most recent application raised objections from Newbury town councillors who said that the rooms would be too small, that there was inadequate parking and that a heritage building would be lost.
Greenham parish council also opposed the plans, raising concerns about the levels of noise and air pollution for future occupiers.
Speaking about the approval the chairman of Greenham parish council, Tony Forward, said: “I’m very disappointed that we have lost a nice component of the area, and it’s a shame it won’t be converted into housing, but I’m also concerned about the traffic noise so close to the main road.”
Mr Forward added that existing noise levels in the area were well above those advised by the World Health Organisation and that air pollution was also an issue.
“Up at Dead Mans Lane the noise level is well above safety recommendations and the [Burger King] roundabout is a pollution hotspot. I’m concerned for residents about putting housing so close to a road that can be detrimental to health.
“I’m very disappointed from the experience we have had in Greenham that the developer was not required to demonstrate that it would be feasible to build and make the noise levels capable for habitation.”