Cause for concern
The pub in question here is in Leicestershire but what has happened is worrying for us all, especially in the light of the Crooked House case. The report comes from CAMRA’s Pub Heritage Bulletin (no. 247) for September 2023. The local authority, in association with CAMRA’s Hinckley & Bosworth branch, tried to have the Wharf, a Marston’s pub in Hinckley statutorily listed. The Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) however said that the pub did not qualify for listing because it is not under threat, so is not a ‘strategic priority’ and that they have to ‘prioritise designation resources’. They also challenged its ‘evident significance’ which is disputed because it is 1930s Brewer’s Tudor and few pubs built in this style remain. It rates two stars on CAMRA’s Heritage Pubs list. DCMS said that another application could be made should the pub come under threat but, by that time, it could be too late. Surely, if a pub is worthy of protection it should be listed without delay.
West Midlands and CAMRA
Again, following the sad episode of the Crooked House in Himley, local CAMRA branches and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA; an association of local councils) have joined forces to ensure that valuable pubs are properly protected. A list of pubs that deserve to be protected is being drawn up, based partly on suggestions from local pub enthusiasts. Measures such as statutory listing by Heritage England or registration as Assets of Community Value will be considered, along with local plans and community ownership. In the first six months of 2023, CAMRA recorded 21 pubs in England that have been demolished without planning permission.
Andy Street, the mayor of the West Midlands and who also chairs the WMCA, said, “Protecting our pubs isn’t just about preserving bricks and mortar; it’s about safeguarding the heart and soul of our communities. That’s why we’ve teamed up with CAMRA to take action in the wake of the Crooked House case to ensure we do not see a repeat of a beloved pub being put at risk of being consigned to history. We believe we have already identified some of the most at-risk historic pubs in the region but we need people to make their recommendations to ensure we are helping to protect the right venues.”
Gary Timmins, CAMRA’s pub and club campaigns director, added, “CAMRA believes it is vital that venues are marketed as going concerns and everything possible is done to secure their future as community pubs. We are also campaigning to give councils more powers to save and reinstate pubs and we call on the government to use the Autumn budget statement to extend vital help with business rates.”
For the future
Commenting on the recent King’s Speech in the light of the Crooked House case, CAMRA’s national chairman, Nik Antona, said, “The King’s Speech was an opportunity for the Government to make a firm commitment to pub protection and announce legislation to bolster the planning enforcement tools available to local authorities to deter unscrupulous developers from flouting planning rules. Unfortunately, we are still uncertain about whether the Government will act.”