Real ale fans’ joy after pub plans thrown out (From Evesham Journal)

Real ale fans’ joy after pub plans thrown out

2:33pm Thursday 30th August 2007

• Print
• Email
• Share

REAL ale drinkers were raising their glasses in celebration this week as plans to close a popular Pershore pub were thrown out by council members.

The controversial plans to convert The Brandy Cask on Bridge Street into eight residential units were opposed by members of Wychavon District Council's development control committee as they refused permission for the work to go ahead last Thursday (August 23).

Members were told that the council had received 14 letters of objection to the scheme and 12 letters of support from local people. Case officer Jonathan Edwards recommended refusal to the scheme put forward by current landlord Spencer Cooper, primarily due to highway concerns.

However, speaking at the meeting was Peter Bottomley, from the Worcestershire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale and he made it clear that he believed it should be refused for more important reasons than purely access.

"We fully accept that the success of The Brandy Cask is down to Spencer Cooper's hard work over 17 years but we have to oppose an application to destroy this unique pub. In our view this should not only be rejected in the grounds of access," he said." Pubs cannot be counted as peas in a pod. The facilities at The Brandy Cask are unique and no other pub in Pershore has the same attributes. Pershore already has fewer pubs relating to population than other local market towns and this one is still completely viable as a pub."

Cllr Judy Pearce said: "This pub has not been marketed properly and at a price that is suitable. If it was, then it would have been snapped up and with the right management, could turn in a very good profit. It is a delightful pub and to close it would be a dreadful loss to the town."

• Print
• Email
• Share