Greyhound Inn Set to Close

The landlord of the Greyhound Inn in Whaddon, Mike Carter, has finally lost his fight to save his pub after a Government inspector has ruled that the building of five flats the owner wishes to turn the pub into can go ahead.

Brian Williams, owner of the Greyhound Inn, in Hewlett Road, has been given planning permission to turn the pub into five flats, despite more than six hundred of town residents signing a petition opposing the application. Although the application was turned down by Cheltenham Borough Council's planning committee, the permission was granted on appeal.

Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood said, ‘I am horrified at the probable loss of the Greyhound Inn in Hewlett Road following today’s planning decision that gives the green light for the pub to be demolished and replaced with flats. Despite a unanimous council planning committee vote against development a planning inspector has ruled that the pub can close.’

Mike Carter and Martin Horwood, MP

This closure would be very disappointing for Whaddon, as the Greyhound Inn is a very popular local pub. This possible action is part of a wider problem in Cheltenham and across the country. Pubs are now closing at a rate estimated at 39 pubs a week and rising.

Yesterday in parliament, Martin supported the launch of a new All Party Group called ‘Save the Pub’, which aims to work alongside the pubs industry, trade associations and pressure groups to raise the challenges and issues facing publicans and pubs. One of the focuses will be changes to planning law to properly recognise the importance of and to offer more protection to pubs faced with closure.