Don't knock down our local pub, say Kingswood residents

Councillors are to visit a 19th century Kingswood pub that's earmarked for demolition before deciding whether or not to grant permission for 11 homes and a shop on the site.

Local councillors have asked South Gloucestershire Council's development control (east) committee to visit the boarded-up Highwayman pub on Hill Street so that they can see the site and hear the views of local residents. Planning officers are recommending that the scheme is approved.

Developers want to demolish the pub and replace it with homes and a small shop. Despite its age, the building is not listed.

The proposal has been met with a number of objections from local residents concerned about the scale of the proposals, the effect on local parking and the loss of the pub.

The council has received 13 letters of objection and a 64-signature petition opposing the development, and the Bristol Pubs Group (CAMRA) has also objected to the scheme. 

They claim the pub was purposely allowed to run down in recent years.

In a letter opposing its loss, the group said: "It is not so long ago that the Highwayman was a thriving local, serving a large and appreciative local customer base.

"It is a matter of regret that in recent years, the customer offering has declined in many ways. A lack of investment to retain its attraction and customer base has resulted in the pub being closed for some time. Bristol Pubs Group strongly believes that with the right motivated management offering an imaginative consumer choice, this pub can return to being a thriving pub for Kingswood."

They said there were examples in South Gloucestershire where pubs had been '"revived from the dead" in  recent years, including the Green Dragon in Downend, the Fleur De Lys at Pucklechurch and the Grapes at Chipping Sodbury.

In a statement, local Labour councillors Gareth Manson, Andy Perkins and Pat Rooney, who asked for the site visit, said:  "The loss of a community building like a pub is real shame and what is being proposed in its place looks a lot larger than what is there now.

"There doesn't appear to have been any assessment of the increased traffic movements into and out of the site and what impact that would have.

"Although the applicants claim enough parking is to be provided, the only parking for existing residents of Hill Street in this location is on-street so if there is ever any overspill parking, it will only add to an already congested situation."

Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore said he has been contacted by local residents "passionate" about keeping the pub.

"It is my understanding that the public house was previously under a neglectful ownership," he said. "However, in light of its history, I believe that with the right management, it will regain its prominence and popularity with the local community. The local residents are passionate about keeping the public house in place, so that their hopes of

seeing it revitalised are not dashed."

The site visit will take place on Friday, March 2 at 9.35am.

The site is just down the road from where Sainsbury's controversially recently won permission to open a Local convenience store.