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Public outcry saves pub from bulldozer
The Victoria pub in St Annes will no longer be demolished
A TIDAL wave of public support has led to proposals to demolish a famous Fylde pub being thrown out.
The historic Victoria Hotel on Church Road, St Annes, will remain standing for the foreseeable future as plans to turn the site into 40 retirement homes were turned down.
Fylde Council could yet face an appeal from developers McCarthy and Stone, but passionate regulars turned out in force to back plans to save the Victorian building.
John Dickinson, from St Annes, addressed the development management committee.
He said: “I don’t believe the need for 40 more apartments in St Annes can be justified. The Victoria Hotel is the centre of the community and if we knock it down, the community will die.”
Another regular, John Dempsey, from St David’s Road North, claims putting pensioners in homes on a busy junction was dangerous.
He added: “It’s a beautiful building but it’s the actual site between two major junctions in St Annes where we have had serious accidents. I’m quite mobile on my feet, but I’ve had a few panic attacks trying to cross that road.”
Edward Duralski, from Hove Road, questioned why the demolished Kwik Save site on nearby St David’s Road was not being used.
He said: “There is a well known saying ‘those who don’t learn from history are bound to repeat it’.
“The lesson we can learn from the Kwik Save site is it was knocked down and the revenue to this council was zero.
“This is what we are facing with the demolition of the Victoria.”
The pub had been recently turned down for listed status by English Heritage, but the fact it had been considered was thought to be key in attempts to save it.
Chris Butt, an agent for McCarthy and Stone, said: “We’ve been looking for a site in St Annes for a number of years and have looked at the site mentioned, but have not come forward with plans.
“We feel it’s a very good location given that it’s close to shops.
“We’ve worked closely with the officers and re-designed the proposal on a number of occasions.
“We believe it will enhance the area.”
Councillors also spoke passionately about saving the pub.
Coun Tim Armit said: “It’s a significant part of the community and we can’t keep knocking local buildings down.”
Coun Charlie Duffy added: “If this was a site with a few derelict houses it would be fine to demolish, but it’s a vibrant pub.”
The council voted to reject the plans on the grounds of a “detrimental impact to the community” but will have to wait to find out if an appeal is lodged.
After the hearing, regular Darren Pritchard said: “It’s great news for me, this pub has been years in service, it was established a very long time back.
“It has been a good place for the community who come here and although it needs money spent on it. It doesn’t need knocking down.”
Graham Harris added: “It is a meeting place for people, it has been for years, and if the pub closed it would disrupt people’s lives. These are people who perhaps don’t have family and want to come in for a drink with nice people.”
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Wednesday 30 May 2012
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Comments
There are 21 comments to this article
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Florida~Suede
Monday, December 19, 2011 at 09:50 PMWhen my Dad was alive he used to go to the Vic every week to meet his "Merry Widows" ~ this makes me VERY happy that the building will NOT be torn down!!!! Not only is it a gorgeous building ~ it's a Landmark!!!!! "GREAT JOB" to everyone who stepped up and fought for this... I just started getting the Gazette e-mails and look forward to keeping up with news of Lytham, my former hometown...
Blackpools Finest
Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 05:01 PMSee You Tube - When Strict Mistress dates the wonderful Sir Hubert.........woweeeee this is not to be missed. He really is the legend of The gazette columns. Happy Christmas my MAN xx
Removed by moderator
Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 07:16 AMMy Pleasure no 18, and merry xmas to you.
Blackpools Finest
Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 03:56 PMSir Hubert, I admire your words and so so true. I do remember Blackpool been a place of indeed great respect, always a little saucy, but fine for all. Now its the dumping ground of eastern europe, london, liverpool, and of course a council which cannot work anywhere else. jo xx PS come to mine on Xmas day, for a bit
Removed by moderator
Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 12:42 PMComment removed by moderator
Charles Lightoller
Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 01:43 AM(#15) " Inappropriate twaddle?' It's odd then, how this pub has been a lot quieter since the July smoking ban of '07. Perhaps you just think it's coinicidence or maybe you'll blame the supermarkets for selling cheap booze, or the 'greedy' breweries or taxation levels blah-blah? The fact is, if smokers were still permitted in this pub, its' future wouldn't even be in question. Like all the other pubs and clubs in and around Blackpool that have closed down, it would still be as busy as it was prior to July '07 and turning a reasonable profit.
$comment.screenname
Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 01:13 AM#14 - Totally Inappropriate Twaddle!!!
Charles Lightoller
Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 12:14 AMIf there's an amendment make to the draconian smoking ban of '07, where landlords are allowed to choose to being a smoking or non smoking pub, the Victoria Hotel will have a safer future. As it is, unfortunately, the pub will have to try and survive on its' existing regulars and they won't be enough in number to maintain its' viability. However, allow its' old smoking regulars back in and things will look up. I look forward to the reposte from the anti-smoking gang, who'll tell me of the dangers of (non existent?) passive smoking and how horrible it was to have their clothes smelling of smoke when they got home at night, blah-blah-blah, drone, drone etc.
cardy
Friday, December 16, 2011 at 05:52 PMLets hope the locals now start using he place they wanted saving or this could end up a shallow victory
Blackpools Finest
Friday, December 16, 2011 at 04:57 PMI am really pleased about this pub been saved. Its a real local landmark. The drinks are on me next week and I may even wear something naughty to visit Jo xx
IvanPennell
Friday, December 16, 2011 at 04:44 PMGreat news Great music venue :-)
HohoKam
Friday, December 16, 2011 at 04:40 PMAs a renowned pith artist I raise my glass to this victory. There are other sites in St. Annes where the retirement homes can go,. How about the former Job Centre turned eyesore on St. George's Road?
SouthShore
Friday, December 16, 2011 at 04:34 PMThis is a great victory for common sense. Well done everyone who joined the facebook campaign, signed the petition, emailed wrote to Mike Atherton and those who attended the planning meeting. ALL of you helped. Excellent community effort! :-)
war baby
Friday, December 16, 2011 at 03:57 PMPOWER TO THE PEOPLE ! now lets get some people POWER ,gainst MILLIONS of pounds being wasted on Hidious things that keep popping up along the Prom ,and elsewhere . The Gazette seemed to have kept quiet , about the Hundreds of Council workers whom all received letters last week ,asking them to take Voluntary Redundancy .
Blackpool_resident
Friday, December 16, 2011 at 03:49 PMMrs Shah will be gutted as this was her plan B after the Blackpool council turned down her planning permission for a mosque Waterloo RD.
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