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From the
https://www.bexleytimes.co.uk 1 August 2017 by Luke May.
Coach and Horses pub to become home to six apartments after council meeting.
Plans were approved on Thursday night.
A final plea to protect a Bexley pub from transforming into flats fell
on deaf ears as approval was given by councillors last week.
Plans to turn the Coach and Horses pub into six apartments went to
planning councillors on Thursday night, having already been earmarked
for approval and receiving the backing of residents.
The borough’s branch of the Campaign for Real Ale had tried to protect
the North Cray Road pub last year, when it first heard rumours of
potential development, by applying to add the pub’s name to the list of
assets of community value in the borough.
But the application was knocked back after the pub proved unpopular
compared to nearby competition.
Council documents explained: “The pub trades poorly. The vast majority
of local residents and visitors prefer to frequent the five pubs and
numerous restaurants more centrally located in Bexley Village, just a
short distance away.”
In a last bid to stop the conversion, Bexley Camra put in a formal
objection to the proposal, but a unanimous vote saw plans for a
two-storey extension and housing conversion given, subject to conditions
which include retaining the site’s signage and meeting standards for
parking and cycling provision.
The apartments will be split between four one-bedroom and two
two-bedroom flats with seven parking spaces provided.
Ian Wright from Bexley Camra said: “All pub’s are important, just
because people are not visiting now is no excuse to close it down.
“You only need to look at the "George and Dragon" in Swanscombe, it was a
run-down pub three years ago, but new owners came in and now it is a
thriving business with a large array of real ales.
“It’s sad to see another pub go, thankfully we don’t know of any other
pubs at risk around the borough.”
Between 2002 and 2016, Bexley lost five of its pubs and bars, including
The "Old Wick" in 2011, representing the smallest number of closures
across the capital.
Landlord of 13 years Tony Stowell said he had no date planned for the
pub’s closure.
The 54-year-old said: “A few weeks ago we only ordered in two barrels,
it’s ridiculous but there’s no point buying in beer just for it to go
off.
“Things were great when I started, but then there was the smoking ban
and the recession, people have changed the way they drink now, I used to
see the same people maybe four times a week, now I’m lucky if it’s once
a month.
“I think I’m ready to slow down and start this new chapter turning it
into apartments.”
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