Councillors Aim to Protect our Pubs

---

Guidelines drawn up to stop developers

Hammersmith and Fulham councillors have agreed to draw up new guidelines to protect our back street pubs.

The agreement came after a planning meeting last week when approval was granted to a plan to turn the Olive Tree pub in Perrers Road, near Ravenscourt Park, into two maisonettes and three flats.

In August, approval was also given to split the Cottage pub in Colehill Lane in Fulham into two maisonettes and four flats.

Now councillors will draw up guidelines to stop developers buying pubs with a high land value and carving them up into residential properties to sell at a profit.

Labour member Wesley Harcourt told Dan Hodges of the Ealing Gazette: " It's becoming increasingly difficult to find the sort of relaxing atmosphere that we need to wind down after a meeting like this.

" I'm not talking about town centre pubs and city centre pubs, I'm talking about traditional backstreet sort of pubs which, according to the British Beer and Pub Association, are closing at a rate of about 40 a week."

He added that across London, 167 London pubs closed down last year.

Sarah Gore, the Conservative councillor for North End, said some developers were acquiring pubs with the intention of 'running them down' then claiming that the business was no longer viable, and conversion into flats was the only option.

She said: "We do need to consider the needs of these residents. For many people the idea of a good night does not necessarily end with the Pitcher and Piano."

The councillors have agreed unanimously to develop planning guidance to preserve pubs in the borough which are  " a much-loved aspect of our heritage".

November 3, 2009