Cheers as treasured Shropshire pubs get new protected status

The number of pubs nominated under the scheme has doubled in the past six months, following the launch of a joint Camra and Government initiative to protect England's most valued public houses.

And the figures include several pubs in Shropshire which have been named assets of community value – giving locals in the area advance warning of any planned developments to the site, especially change of use, which could result in the premises no longer being a public house.

Earlier this month The Saddlers, in Whitecroft Road on the Shrewsbury's Reabrook estate, was put forward for the status to protect it from any future development.

Chris Bowers, landlord of The Saddlers, said one of the pub's regulars had approached him about the idea.

"The Saddlers is a real community, family-friendly pub. We have our regulars and we are exactly what you expect of a community pub. This nomination is great news, it shows that regulars want to protect the pub," he said.

In April the last remaining pub in Pant, the Cross Guns, was declared an asset of community value after seeing two other pubs in the village close in recent years.

Landlady Alison Foden said there was no current threat to the 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."

A number of other pubs in Shropshire have been granted the status in recent years, including the Sun in Welshampton, the Cross Keys in Kinnerley and the Golden Lion in Oswestry.

Tim Page, Camra chief executive, says: "It is fantastic to see community groups across England coming together to protect 1,200 pubs across the country from redevelopment or demolition.

"This figure is a testament to the effectiveness of putting power back into the hands of local communities and giving them a chance to have a say in shaping their communities.

"We hope to more than double that figure by this time next year.

"Asset of community value status also generates vital support for local pubs and highlights the wide variety of community-orientated events and activities that contribute significantly to local civic life.

"With 29 pubs closing every week we want to secure greater support for listed pubs to ensure they continue to be at the heart of our communities."

The Cross Keys at Kinnerley, near Oswestry, closed after a small fire 12 months ago and the then owner put in planning applications, firstly for four houses in the grounds and then to convert it into three homes, building a fourth in the pub garden. The listed building was then registered by Kinnerley Parish Council as a community asset, meaning it had the first chance to buy the building but only for a short period of time.

When the time lapsed it was feared the community has lost the chance to retain the pub, but an anonymous buyer stepped in to save the building from development.

The community is now in the process of working to reopen the pub.

In south Shropshire, The Pheasant in Neenton, near Bridgnorth, was put forward as an asset of community value by Astley Abbots Parish Council. The pub closed nine years ago but residents stepped forward to reopen it at the start of 2015.

Villager John Pickup said: "The whole social fabric was under threat. It was a question that if we didn't do something about rescuing it, we would have ceased to be a village, we would have become just a collection of houses where people didn't talk to their neighbours."