Villagers’ bid to reopen pub (From Ledbury Reporter)

Villagers’ bid to reopen pub

8:10am Sunday 15th April 2012 in News By Robert Hale

RESIDENTS are looking for support in a bid to get their village pub reopened.

The Pheasant, in Welland, near Malvern, closed in July 2010, prompting locals to maintain a nightly vigil for 13 weeks, gathering outside to maintain a community presence and protect it from vandalism.

Now they are stepping up their campaign to have it reopened and are hoping to enlist the support of the community group Pub Is The Hub.

They have launched an online petition which they want as many people as possible in and around the village to sign.

Matt Moore, one of the campaigners, says people fear there will be an application to redevelop the pub site for housing.

He said: “Pub Is The Hub are willing to try and help provided enough people are interested, which is why we want to publicise the petition.”

The pub’s freeholder is Peter Bailey of Worcester-based Dalelong Property. Mr Moore said campaigners hope to work alongside him.

Another campaigner, Roy Sumner, said: “The Pheasant is in a prominent position on the crossroads right in the heart of the village. It’s across the road from the church and the village hall, and the primary school is only a little further away. The pub is now empty and boarded up and it’s an eyesore.”

The Campaign for Real Ale has already pledged its support for the efforts. Spokesman Mark Haslam said: “Welland is a sizeable community, and the Pheasant is centrally located and has historically traded satisfactorily.

We would support any effort by the community to get it back in use.”

Pub is the Hub, founded by Prince Charles in 2001, encourages local authorities, communities and the pub trade to work together to support rural pubs.

The petition is at ipetitions.

com/petition/thepheasant.Anyo ne interested in helping the campaign can also contact savethepheasant@gmail.com.

Mr Bailey was unavailable for comment.