Villagers in Surfleet are joining forces in the hope of buying a pub which closed more than a year ago.
They are taking the first steps in trying to get The Ship registered as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) by South Holland District Council.
Campaigners are urging everyone to get on board at the early stage, before fundraising starts in earnest.
“It has been closed a while and we have been thinking about this as it really is the hub of the village,” said Mark Newlands, spokesman for the Surfleet Shipmates campaign.
“What has really prompted us to act now is that we have seen activity with things being removed, such as the bar, and it’s not clear if it’s even likely to stay as a pub.
“We have been in a holding pattern since the previous landlord and his wife closed the pub and put it on the market – which of course they have every right to do. We thought it would be sold as a pub, but it’s not clear what’s happening” he said.
In April of this year, new legislation made it easier for communities to buy an ACV including village pubs.
But it is down to the community to demonstrate that the pub really is an asset by completing an application form to the district council.
There is a period of eight weeks before the council has to make a decision.
If it agrees with the campaigners, the register of ACVs is updated and then if and when the property goes on the market, the community must be given the right to buy and any sale delayed until it has had time to raise the funds.
There is a time limit of 12 months and if the amount raised matches the asking price then the seller must at least consider it.
The Ship, a freehouse, is back on the market for £550,000 after it was sold by the previous landlord and landlady.
If the group can get the pub listed as an ACV it can buy time and also must be taken into account if there are future planning applications which could see it changed to a dwelling. The legislation is designed to give communities more say in what might happen.
“There is a group of eight of us who were regulars and still meet-up now. We talk about the pub and know how much of a hole its closure has left. It really was the centre of the village,” said Mark.
“We only launched this at 9pm on Saturday and by Tuesday lunchtime we had more than 200 people sign-up in support which is a great start,” he added.
The Shipmates are focussing on meeting the first milestone of having The Ship registered before moving on to a fundraising element.
“Without you, we’re nothing, there will be no pub. Please support us now,” says the group’s website.
“Our campaign fights to keep this irreplaceable community asset safe from redevelopment that would erase its cultural significance and social value.
“We might not own it, but it’s still our pub, your pub and it’s an integral part of our community.”
For more details see the website www.surfleetshipmates.org or find the group on Facebook.
