Regulars in bid to save Shrewsbury pub from demolition

The Anchor Inn in Harlescott, has been earmarked for closure by owners Punch Taverns.

The pubs company plans to sell the Gloucester Road pub, which was built in the early 1960s and which has the oldest pub football team in the town, to the Wrekin Housing Trust which will then demolish it and build six houses and a three-storey apartment block on the site.

But opponents to the plan say the pub, which also has thriving darts and pool teams, is the only community asset on The Grange and is a vital source of support for many of the estate's residents.

Landlords Mark Archer and Beverley Guest took over the running of the pub six months ago.

They say the first they knew of the proposed demolition was a site notice appearing stating that Wrekin Housing Trust had applied to Shropshire Council for the demolition of the pub and the building of the affordable housing and Flats.

Mr Archer said: "An initial planning application was put in but was rejected due to size. This has now been scaled back and resubmitted. We were devastated to see the application, it was the first we knew of it. Punch have told us nothing."

The pub has now started a petition, which has already attracted 300 signatures and has the support of the Shropshire branch of CAMRA.

"Punch say this is not a profitable pub, but they haven't been here," said Mr Archer. "It is the real hub of the community. We have some regulars who come in every day and we have others who just come by every few weeks. Without the pub people can become easily isolated. I have been in the pub trade for 18 years and The Anchor is a great example of a community pub."

Tony Wilson, who is captain of the pub's darts team and previously captain of the football team, added: "This pub is really good. People are using it, it is making a good profit and it is part of the local community. Objections have been made regarding the planning application and we are not going to go down without a fight.

"Punch says this pub is run down and yes, perhaps it does need a lick of paint, but we have said we will do that ourselves if it means the pub will stay open."

Neither the agent, Jennings Design Associates of Denton in Lancashire, for the applicant, Wrekin Housing Trust, or Punch Taverns was available for comment.