Villagers oppose pub demolition plan

By Juliette Maxam

VILLAGERS are opposed to a plan to demolish a “much-loved” historic inn and replace it with a bigger pub.

There has been a pub on the site of the Lion's Den in Great Holland since the Middle Ages and the current building dates back up to 150 years.

But the pub has been closed for about two years and a planning application has now been submitted by J Gilbert to Tendring District Council to knock it down and replace it with a pub that would be twice as big.

Although villagers are keen for the Little Clacton Road pub to reopen, they do not want the building to be knocked down because they consider it to be a local landmark.

About 400 people have written to Tendring District Council objecting to the proposal.

They called on the council to apply for listed building status for the pub, but English Heritage has said it is not of sufficient special architectural and historic interest to merit listing.

Alan Large, the Frinton and Walton Town Council member for Great Holland, said: “It's a landmark, part of the history of the village. There would be people in the village interested in taking it on as a going concern.”

He added a resident living in a bungalow next to the pub would be particularly affected by the plan because the rebuilt inn would be closer to his home.

Other concerns include fears the new pub would lead to an increase in traffic, causing hazards on the road, and that the proposed 32-space car park would be too small.

Residents were also worried the new pub would cause late-night nuisance and create an “undesirable urban character”.

However, council planning officers have recommended the application is given planning permission.

Tendring District Council's development control committee will discuss the plan at a meeting on Wednesday. J Gilbert could not be contacted for comment yesterday.

juliette.maxam@eadt.co.uk