Campaigners fight against closure of Lower Gornal pub

The Fiddlers Arms could become the latest boozer to be lost to a supermarket in the borough.

Now, more than 700 people have signed a petition to save the Lower Gornal business from the bulldozer. Pub owners NewRiver Retail submitted an application to Dudley Council in February to demolish the building and build a Co-op on the site.

The pub is the latest in a long line set for the bulldozer after being taken over by NewRiver Retail.

UKIP MEP Bill Etheridge said demolishing the building would be ‘totally wrong’ as public houses ‘continue to dwindle’ across the Black Country.

The Fiddlers Arms is due to close in December and will be replaced with the supermarket, five houses and 17 parking spaces.

The pub was sold by Marston’s to NewRiver Retail in 2013 and has been rented on a lease basis ever since.

But now 740 punters are hoping to stop time being called and have signed a petition to try and save it.

Mr Etheridge, a Sedgley councillor, said: “The local public have spoken and said they want to keep the pub.

“The country is awash with convenience stores, but our stock of public houses continues to dwindle.

“Pubs are part of our heritage and it would be totally wrong to keep destroying character buildings such as this.”

Landlord Roy Pickering said nothing will change unless more people visit the pub. He said: “It’s up to the people of Lower Gornal to visit the pub more so we can show NewRiver Retail that the pub needs to stay.

“We don’t want it knocked down as it would be a shame and I love it here.”

Gornal councillor Roger Scott-Dow said: “The fact that 700-plus people have expressed such an interest should show to the owners there is a market for the pub. A little investment to bring the place up to scratch could provide a very good return.”

NewRiver acquired the pub as part of a 202-strong portfolio.

A spokesperson for NewRiver said trade at the pub had dwindled. They adedd: “A detailed viability report will be provided as part of the planning application and this shows the pub has had three tenants in the last six years and experienced a 70 per cent loss in trade over a four-year period.

“It is always regrettable when public houses close down, but to be sustainable, pubs are no different from any other business.”