A group of villagers look set to secure special status for their local pub in a bid to get it reopen and protect it from a change of use.
South Holland District Council portfolio holder for community Gary Taylor has given his approval to the application for The Jolly Crispin in Lutton (pictured) to be named an “asset of community value”. But Rob and Sally Stutely-Brown, who closed the pub in May because it wasn’t “financially viable,” branded the application “ludicrous” and said it has actually driven a potential buyer away.
The ‘Save Our Local – The Jolly Crispin’ committee secured 100 signatures for the pub to be named an asset of community value.
Committee chairman Richard Phillips (46) submitted the application, which said the pub had served Lutton for 100 years. It said it was an important amenity in a village with few meeting places and host of community events, including, for the last 16 years, the ‘Bugling of the Sausage’.
The application said: “There is no reason why The Jolly Crispin cannot be reopened as a public house.
“Should it be sold as a pub then the new owners would be very welcome and supported by the village.”
The application was supported by Lutton Parish Council and Long Sutton district councillors Laura Eldridge and Jack Tyrrell.
An “asset of community value” listing has the effect of potentially pausing any sale of the pub for the local community to raise finances and make a bid to buy it. It also protects it from any change of use, such as to retail, that might otherwise have been allowed.
Mr Phillips told The Voice the committee would now meet to decide what to do next, adding: “We have no axe to grind and if Rob and Sally were to reopen as a pub today we’d be down there tonight.”
In a joint response to the district council following the application, Mr and Mrs Stutely-Brown said they closed the pub in May having moved in last September and ploughed thousands into refurbishing it.
They said takings were as low as £3.60 a day, adding: “If all of the signatures attached to your letter actually supported the pub and came in more than just once then we would have been a financially viable business.”
The couple have been advertising the pub for sale or lease but said the application for community asset listing has driven a buyer away.
They added: “The pub could have reopened with new owners if not for this ludicrous application.
“Having been advised that such a restriction on our home could be deemed as detrimental to potential purchasers, we have decided that if this motion is agreed then unfortunately we have no choice but to remove the pub from the market and continue to live in the residential accommodation as we have been doing.”
The registration will come into effect on Friday (Oct 28), unless contested by a councillor or council officer.
