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From the
http://www.kentonline.co.uk by Ed McConnell, 18 November 2014.
Planning application by Heritage Designer Homes Ltd to transform The Old
Plantation, Plantation Lane, Bearsted, into homes.
A Grade II listed pub which has been operating in Bearsted since at
least 1860 will be transformed into homes if a planning application is
approved.
Proposals would see The Old Plantation Inn, in Plantation Lane, Bearsted,
replaced by three residential dwellings, with one built in place of the
existing building and two new two-storey properties constructed in other
areas of the 0.24 hectare site.
The application, submitted to Maidstone Borough Council by Heritage
Designer Homes Ltd who bought the building a year ago and is based in
the village, also proposes demolishing just over a third of the current
structure on the grounds that it is poor quality and not in keeping with
the rest of the building.
Additionally the existing 30-space car park would be reduced in size to
accommodate just six vehicles.
The freehouse is currently open to the public but is set to close after
Christmas as the owners no longer see it as a viable business.
A campaign has been launched by Stephen Coomber to save the premises on
the grounds that the arguments for the change of use are inaccurate.
Mr Coomber, of Willington Street, Bearsted, who has worked with previous
managers of The Old Plantation, said: “The pub used to be a traditional
meeting place where everyone from builders to barristers would go to
drink.”
The 56-year-old business advisor, who has visited the pub since he moved
to the village 22 years ago, added: “The applicant's suggestion that the
pub provides no different service to any other in the area is untrue.
Only recently has it started moving towards food but it has always been
very successful as a drinks-based business which makes it unique.”
Responding to suggestions the pub is not a viable business he cited the
low tenancy cost and previous high turnover, adding: “I'm sure I could
find a dozen people who would jump at the chance to take on the
tenancy.”
Stephen and Cathryn Coomber campaigning to save The Old Plantation pub
in Bearsted. Above picture: Gary Browne.
Sue Nutting, who lives opposite the pub and has launched a petition to
save it which will be presented to MBC, said: “Perhaps surprisingly,
many of those in the immediate vicinity want the pub to remain as a
public house. Large numbers of other Bearsted residents have also
indicated their support.”
Mother-of-two Sally Stuart said: "The pub is one of the only ones left
in the village to offer a safe and decent outside environment to take
children, with a bit of work it could be hugely successful."
The 40-year-old from Port Close, Bearsted, added: "The figures provided
for how much the pub has made in the past 12 months are not reliable as
it is only open half the time."
Steve Swift, a director of Heritage Designer Homes, said: “We engaged
Porters Chartered Surveyors, a reputable Maidstone-based company which
specialises in the valuation and sale of all types of licensed premises.
“It prepared a detailed report on the viability of The Old Plantation
Inn and have carried out an assessment of the trading history of the
premises for the period 2007 to 2011 and the most recent period from
October 2013 to July 2014.
“The report concludes that the premises has not been trading profitably
for some time and the most recent accounts that it operated at a loss of
over £10K this excludes drawings, payments by the licensee and the fact
that the rent has been reduced by 65% in order to keep it running for
the short term.
“Whether or not planning permission is granted the pub will be closing
after Christmas because it is no longer viable.”
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