Locals battle to save thriving pub as homes plan lodged
A village pub is under threat after its owners applied for planning permission to turn it into houses.
A campaign has now been launched to save The Punch Bowl in Llandrinio, between Oswestry and Welshpool, which is still trading.
Former landlord and County Councillor Graham Brown, who represents Llandrinio, said the pub's owner Punch Taverns submitted the application without telling the current tenants – a claim denied by the company.
He said: "I have received an e-mail from the planning department informing me that an application has been received to convert the Punch Bowl into two residential units and build two other properties on the rest of the land. I have spoken to staff at the pub and Punch Taverns had not told them about this."
John Morris, who captains one of the pub's pool teams, has launched a petition.
He said: "I don't know if anything can be done about this but we have to give it a try. It's the only pub in the village and I hate the thought of losing it.
"It's the heart of the community - it's got four pool teams and two darts and dominoes teams and there are people in there all the time.
"The people I've talked to in the pub are shocked and feel very annoyed."
Mr Morris, 34, from Four Crosses, has set up a Facebook group to raise support at facebook.com/groups/246756718819915
Sarah Maia, spokeswoman for Punch Taverns, said: "This pub forms part of our turnaround division, in which we have committed to review the future of our less sustainable pub businesses. Our partner, Gareth Stedman, was always informed that this pub was in our Turnaround division."
She added: "The pub has been actively marketed for sale and Mr Stedman has been aware that we have been exploring all options since he went into the pub in May. "
