Pub flats plan turned down

Feb 3 2010 By Greg Burns

PLANS to knock down a troubled Chesham pub and turn it into six flats were turned down last week.

Admiral Taverns, owners of The Elephant & Castle, in Waterside, submitted a planning application to Chiltern District Council to tear down the building and replace it with six two-bedroom flats in a three-storey building.

The pub was forced to close after it had its licence revoked following a police investigation last March. New landlords have since moved into the site.

But CDC planning committee unanimously rejected the application at their latest meeting last Thursday (28/1) which heard there had been 51 letters of objection from residents.

Councillor Jane Bramwell (Lib Dem) said: “The loss of this pub in Waterside would be deeply regrettable to residents and there has been no evidence presented to us to show us that it should go.”

Councillor Peter Jones (Lib Dem) said: “The fact that there is another pub close by is not a bad thing because the population of Waterside is so dense and the pub could run as a viable business.”

Councillor Nick Rose (Con) said: “These types of applications are coming before us all too frequently for my liking. In order for us to grant permission they have to prove that the pub is not financially viable and they have not seem to have given it a go.”

Admiral Taverns insist they are still looking for someone to purchase the pub off them.

A spokesperson for the company said: “The planning application was made by a prospective buyer, not by Admiral Taverns.

“We intend to sell the pub and are keen to hear from anyone who’s interested in taking it on. More information about the pub is available on our website www.admiraltaverns.co.uk”