Group fights to save pub in Cornwall amid car park planning application

The Friends of Newtown St Martin Pub, a community benefit society, is trying to buy the Prince of Wales Inn for the community and says it has been told by the owners that they would be open to an offer of £440,000, if the group can raise the remaining funds.

The Grade 2 listed building is believed to date back to the late 17th century or early 18th century.

So far the group has won £125,000 in initial grant funding, and will soon be asking for support in its Community Share Offer to raise the rest.

At the same time, the pub owners have applied for outline planning permission to build two dormer bungalows on what is currently the pub car park.

A document attached to the application describes it as "previously developed land" and states: "The development site is distinct from the pub, having only been surfaced and used as formal parking associated with the pub in the last ten to 15 years.

"The immediate setting to the pub would be retained, including the beer garden and the courtyard area."

It also states that areas of parking will be retained for he pub.

The proposal is described as a "rounding off development," a term given to a piece of land that is substantially enclosed and has a distinct barrier, such as a road or stream, to prevent further growth.

An indicative site plan for the proposed bungalows, on the Cornwall Council website. Picture: Enhance Land & Planning

However, the Friends group claims the pub would lose ownership of the access road to the rear, shown within the red boundary on the planning application.

Friends chair Viki Carpenter said: “We are still fighting hard to save what is a vital local amenity. This is a beautiful area of outstanding natural beauty, but in recent years we have lost our school, our shop and our garage.

"The pub is really vital for the community to come together and as a community group we’ve worked hard to demonstrate in a detailed business plan how we could once again make it a real hub for the community.

"Our public consultation revealed huge support for this plan, we’ve already had over £100,000 in pledges for share offer, before we’ve even launched and we have over 50 volunteers who have offered to roll their sleeves up and help us get it up and running.

“What we are urging the local community to do is to get behind us. It would be devastating to the local area to lose this pub.”

A photo of the Prince of Wales Pub from 1907. Picture: Mark Gittins/FONSMP

The Friends' plans for the pub including supporting the community through a shop, educational drop in sessions, support groups and clubs.

Viki added: “We need the community now more than ever.

“It’s so important for everyone to keep the faith! The most dangerous thing we face right now is everyone abandoning hope.”

Updates will be posted on the Friends' Facebook page 'Friends Of The Prince of Wales, Newtown St Martin' and its new website https://friendsoftheprinceofwales.org/

People have until Friday, June 4 to leave a comment, either in support or objection, over the bungalow plans on the planning section of the Cornwall Council website as part of the neighbour consultation, reference PA20/03762.

The Packet has also attempted to contact the owners of the Prince of Wales Pub for a comment.