Graham, Tom and Ian

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Lib Dems support community bid to save High Grove pub

by Lib Dem team on 30 September, 2015

Last night, with Lib Dem support, Cheadle Area Committee voted to make the High Grove Pub on Silverdale Road an Asset of Community Value (ACV).

ACVs didn’t exist until the Lib Dems introduced them as part of the Localism Act in 2011, so they’re quite new. We think it’s absolutely right that – with Hydes planning to close the pub – the community should have the opportunity to save it.

However, I want to say a few words about what this does and doesn’t do, because it’s not a magic fix and we shouldn’t raise expectations too far.

Making the High Grove pub an Asset of Community Value does not stop Hydes selling it, nor does it stop it being knocked down for housing (which I’m told is the most likely outcome).

Instead it gives the local community a six month window to put in an offer for the pub. Hydes have no legal obligation to accept that offer. They could sell it to a housing developer anyway, it’s their choice. The asking price for the pub, I’m told, is £475,000, so the community would need to raise at least that much money and have a viable business plan to profitably run the High Grove.

Hydes can also appeal against our decision, and there’s a reason why they might. The rules say that to become an Asset of Community Value

Its main use (i.e. not ancillary) has recently been or is presently beingused to further the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community

Does that apply to the High Grove pub. We think there’s a good case that it does, being the only pub on the estate. It’s arguable though, and I can’t honestly predict what conclusion a judge might reach.

So the Lib Dem team want the community to have a go at this, to see if it can be made to work. There are no guarantees, and I have to say it’s not going to easy, but far better to try than not.

   8 Comments

8 Responses

  1. Mr S Powell says:

    I have lived on Silverdale Road for the past 53 years, I actually watched my house being built, and when it was finished I moved in, a few years later I watched the High Grove Pub being built, and later on my 2 sons had their first Pint in there, this Pub musty not be knocked down, it is a local social hub,with a large catchment area – the Stockport Council must do more and find a way to preserve it for the local community.

  2. Bruce says:

    Market forces I am afraid – also the general demise of the pub trade.- I will be sorry to see it go but I haven’t been in it for years.

  3. Halifax says:

    Mr Powell, I’m not sure why the Council should use other people’s money to support this pub, when clearly the local people don’t support it.

  4. John M says:

    I will stand corrected, but from my reading of what Iain wrote, there is no suggestion of public money being spent. Rather its a 6 month stay of execution, to see if any individual, partnership or organisation wants to take it on. I will be sorry to see it go, if that is what happens, but I am not surprised patronage has been falling.

  5. Iain Roberts says:

    John – that’s right, it gives the community the opportunity to put in a bid to buy the pub. It doesn’t guarantee anything and it certainly doesn’t mean the council will spend money.

  6. David Maycock says:

    Bruce and Halifax are right public money must not be used to save a pub, i moved up here in 1994 and very rarely went in. But in defence of the pub and people who used it like it or lump it for me the smoking ban has killed the pub trade nothing else why there can not be a room set aside for smokers i do not know as all these do gooders who pushed for this ban are the ones who rarely go in anyway. Smokers always out numbered none smokers.The prime examples to this are working men’s clubs and bingo halls who have been decimated because most clients were smokers. i am a non smoker by the way but never would have a go at someone who does.And who is going to run a community hub, volunteers or maybe Mr S Powell ?

  7. Halifax says:

    David Maycock, I have to disagree that the smoking ban has killed the pub trade. Good pubs are still doing well.

    I regularly use the Crown in Cheadle, and it appears to be doing a very good trade, but then it is a good pub.

    The High Grove is in a bad position, I’m surprised it survived as long as it did

  8. Jennifer says:

    We would prefer the High Grove to be made into housing so as not to end up like the Tatton cinema, a derelict dump .

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