Fresh plans to demolish historic pub
The Blue Ball in Greenham Road is under threat once more after plans were submitted to create housing at the site
A NINETEENTH century pub that has stood for more than 180 years in Newbury could soon be consigned to history.
A planning application has been submitted by Hackwood Homes Limited to demolish The Blue Ball in Greenham Road and replace it with eight houses.
The pub, which has stood since 1830 and is not listed, has been the subject of four separate applications to knock it down and build housing in recent years, although each one has been unsuccessful, with local residents, councillors and the West Berkshire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale criticising the proposals.
However, The Blue Ball closed its doors in March this year and has remained closed ever since, paving the way for the latest application.
The application states that the pub closed as a result of the business running at a serious loss and adds that the owners of the site had advised they were looking for an alternative use for the brownfield site, as it was “clearly uneconomic” to run a pub in this location.
As a result, plans for two semi-detached two-bedroom houses and six three-bedroom houses have been lodged, together with the provision of 12 parking spaces.
And town and district councillor David Allen (Lib Dem, Victoria), who has previously spoken out against plans for housing at the site, said that although he was disappointed the historic building was not being converted, he felt the latest plans were “the best of a bad bunch”.
He said: “I think Punch Taverns have given it a good go and it is just not a profitable business and it is obviously in the wrong place.
“I do think housing is better than flats and although it is a shame it is not being converted, I think it is a better scheme.”
Mr Allen added that he would be contacting local residents to get their views on the proposals, which he said he would then relay back to both Newbury Town Council and West Berkshire Council.
A decision on the plans is due to be made by West Berkshire Council in September.
