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Sun could set for good on Woolhampton pub





Mark Hopkin of Premier Developments Southern Ltd, has submitted an application to demolish The Rising Sun, Woolhampton, and build 14 two-bedroom,semi-detatched houses on the Bath Road site, which lies outside the village settlement boundary.
The Headley-based developer plans to alter the existing access to the site and create a cul de sac to serve the properties.
The development would have 30 parking spaces, down from the existing 40, and include two spaces for disabled people and 28 for bicycles.
The pub, previously owned by Wiltshire-based Arkells Brewery, hit the headlines in April 2013 when an articulated lorry transporting a mobile home jackknifed into the building.
The former coaching inn, said to have been the scene of the arrest, by the Bow Street Runners, of notorious highwayman Captain Hawkes, closed in July 2013 and has been boarded up ever since.
A report from commercial property advisor Whitmarsh Lockhart said that The Rising Sun had not traded well for a number of years.
Indeed, it added that no interest from pub operators had been received after it was placed on the market in January with an initial guide price of £465,000 for the freehold.
The company adds that there are three other pubs within close distance – the Falmouth Arms, The Angel Inn and The Rowbarge, with the latter two providing particularly strong competition.
Evidence of a break-in was found during an inspection of pub, with copper pipes having been crudely removed, leading to water damage.
There was substantial damage to the roof as the lead and roof tiles had also been stolen.
Woolhampton could lose a further pub as West Berkshire Council is considering an application to convert the currently closed Falmouth Arms into four houses.
A decision on The Rising Sun is expected from West Berkshire Council by Wednesday, January 28.



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