Flat plan for Red House is refused

Campaigners who want the Red House pub to be reopened (L-R):John Griffiths, Michael Cox-Mahon, Caroline Pack, John Crossling, Anthony Dwyer, Linda Cox-Mahon, Jim Minnis, Alan Bartlett.

At a meeting of Warwick District Council’s planning committee last night (Tuesday) councillors voted by a majority of six to two to reject the proposal for the Red House in Radford Road on grounds they were not convinced the premises had been actively marketed as a public house for a period of at least 12 months.

A previous scheme, submitted by applicant Graham Ballinger, sought to change the use of the pub to a residential property, including the rear kitchen/toilet block with two further dwellings on the site’s beer garden but this was withdrawn mainly due to issues with vehicle access.

On Tuesday Mr Ballinger argued that the viability of the pub was in doubt as early as 2008 and that from May 2010 three short-term tenants had tried and failed to run it.

He said that the pub had been widely advertised on the open market in August 2011 but that he understood there were no offers from licensed operators.

Campaigners, including Cllr John Barrott and the Campaign for Real Ale are trying to have the “valuable community facility” re-opened and residents have set up a petition which has been signed by 217 people so far.

Objecting to the plans, Anthony Dwyer said there was evidence the pub had not been marketed as a free house within the required 12-month time period as set out in planning policy.