Second demolition threat to Newark pub saved by campaigners

A brewery still wants to knock down a pub that campaigners have fought to save.

Marston’s Estates Ltd has applied to Newark and Sherwood District Council for a second time to demolish The Sawmill, on Beacon Hill Road, Newark, and replace it with two retail units and a carpark.

A similar previous application was turned down in April last year.

More than 600 people signed a petition against the first demolition plan.

A further petition on Newark and Sherwood District Council’s website attracted 70 signatures.

The pub was listed as an asset of community value in May 2016, which triggered a six-month ban on its sale.

That was designed to allow any interested community groups to raise enough money to put in a bid for the pub, but no group came forward.

The ban on its sale has expired and no further ban can be imposed until May 2018.

A Marston’s spokesman said the asset of community value application was granted last year.

“Since this, Marston’s continues to negotiate the redevelopment of the site, via the planning process, while acknowledging the requirements an ACV places on a site,” the spokesman said.

“Marston’s has not been approached by any individual or group with any proposal or offer via the ACV process.”

'We are losing too many of our local pubs'

Town councillor Mr Laurence Goff, who campaigned against The Sawmill’s demolition last year, said he was disappointed about the proposal.

He said: “If they are going to knock it down or put something in its place, I am gutted.

“The other pub in that area, the working men’s club, has closed too.

“This is the nearest pub for people in that area and I want people to be able to walk to a pub rather than drive.”

Mr Goff thought Marston’s had put enough investment into the pub to make it viable.

“We are losing too many of our local pubs in the town,” he said.

“All I can do is object to the application, but I am only one person.”

Mr Goff said he would be voting against the proposal when it came to the town council’s planning committee.

The asset of community value status remains on the pub but, as the six-month ban on the sale of the pub has passed, Marston’s can submit an application.

The district council will have the final say over the application.

To be successful the pub chain would need to persuade the planning committee of one of three things — that The Sawmill is not a viable pub, or that there are enough other pubs in the area so that its loss would not affect the community adversely, or that the business has been properly marketed as no one wants to take it on.