Shropshire village's last pub declared a community asset
The last remaining pub in a village has been declared an asset of community value to protect it from development for years to come.
Regulars at the Cross Guns in Pant on the Shropshire/Mid Wales border made the bid for protected status after seeing two other pubs in the village close in recent years.
The bid was supported by villagers and has been approved by Shropshire Council.
Listing the pub as an asset of community value gives locals in the area advance warning of any planned developments to the site, especially change of use, which could result in the pub no longer being a public house. A number of other pubs in Shropshire have been granted the status, including the Sun in Welshampton, the Cross Keys in Kinnerley and the Golden Lion in Oswestry.
But landlady Alison Foden said there is no current threat to Cross Guns.
She said: "It gives the people of Pant a greater sense that the pub is unlikely to ever not be in existence.
"It's been done by concerned residents of the area who put it forward because we've had one or two issues with the brewery and people were getting worried, but I can say categorically that there are no plans to sell the pub."
The Cross Guns is owned by Marstons and leased to the landlords.
Matt Brown, national planning advisor at pub campaign group CAMRA, said listing is important for all pubs in England.
He said: "We are delighted to be informed that the Cross Guns Inn has been added to the local authority asset list and now has status as an asset of community value. "The listing demonstrates how much the community values the pub.
"The Cross Guns Inn joins the 600 plus pubs listed as ACV's in England and we urge communities to nominate their local pub for ACV status."
Pubs have been closing at the rate of about 29 per week across the country and many have been converted to private houses or convenience stores.
The Cross Guns takes its name from the army badge for a marksman, which is likely a reference to the rifle range which stood where the old first hole of the course at Llanymynech Golf Club is now. The rifle range was set up in the 19th century and used in World War One.
