Pubs could be squashed to make way for flats (From Borehamwood Times)

Pubs could be squashed to make way for flats

5:51pm Thursday 31st May 2007

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Two Borehamwood pubs could be demolished to make way for flats.

The Woodcock, in Croxdale Road, and the Willow Tree, in Howard Drive, which are both empty, have been bought by housing developers hoping Hertsmere Borough Council will allow flats to be built in their place.

The Willow Tree, formerly the Suffolk Punch, has been open since 1956, but closed in April because it was no longer profitable.

The council recently received an application to built 18 flats there and has so far received three objections.

Landlord Gerry Hickey took over the Suffolk Punch two years ago and spent £40,000 refurbishing and renaming it, but his brewery forced him to sell up.

He said: "It's the way things are going with pubs - there's only one pub left in this end of Borehamwood."

Mr Hickey and his wife Linda had to declare themselves bankrupt. He said the price of beer and the cost of Sky licences were to blame for the demise of local pubs - and, he added, the upcoming smoking ban will cripple' trade.

"Sky is taking liberties," he said. "Our licence was £1,100 a month."

The Woodcock closed just over a year ago after the borough council's licensing committee refused to give its landlords a licence following an undercover police investigation which revealed drug dealing and other criminal behaviour at the pub.

On Thursday, councillors will vote on whether to allow 12 flats on the Woodcock site, which is at the junction of Croxdale Road and Barton Way. Council planners have recommended they approve it. Only one objection was made, regarding parking and construction time.

Steve Bury, from Hertford-shire's Campaign for Real Ale, said it was a sad sign of the times.

"Borehamwood is short enough of social venues as it is," he said. "The place is going to be devoid of any social interaction soon.

"What they need to be doing is finding money to keep them going, rather than make a quick buck, but they are worth so much more to developers.

"There was a time, not that long ago, when the Woodcock was a good, well-run, viable pub," he added. "But the people who ran it allowed it to get out of control."

Planning officer Chris Lewcock said the council's Local Plan does not include protection for pubs, but officers do take into account the number of alternative community facilities available.

"We protect community facilities in general, if we feel that parts of the borough are falling short of that sort of facility," he said, "but those areas are reasonably well served at the moment."

He also said he was doubtful' whether the other application, on the site of the Willow Tree, would be recommended for approval because of its design, but said it was still being assessed.

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