Thousands sign petition to avert Coachmakers pub demolition (VIDEO)
A PETITION signed by thousands of beer fans from around the world has been submitted to the city council.
More than 7,500 supporters of Hanley’s Coachmakers Arms have backed the fight to save the Victorian pub, which faces demolition to make way for a £256 million shopping centre.
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Coachmakers Arms owners Jason Barlow and Sue Grocott.
A period of public consultation on the proposed East West Centre is drawing to a close.
And yesterday, Coachmakers licensees Jason Barlow and Sue Grocott handed over the petition, 114 individual letters of support and details of their own consultation event to Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
Jason said: “I would like to say thank you to everyone who has supported us and I hope that the council will take into account the views of a very large community when considering the application.”
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Since it first emerged in March that the Coachmakers was under threat back in March, the pub has won the backing of the Victorian Society, Good Beer Guide editor Roger Protz and football legend Gordon Banks.
The World Cup winner has even said that saving the pub would be equal to his legendary save from Pele in the 1970 competition.
Local interest from drinkers as well as the Potteries Pub Preservation Group (PPPG) and the Potteries branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) led to a committee being formed to mastermind the fight to save the award-winning pub.
But a bid to obtain listed building status was unsuccessful. And an alternative consultation event failed to have the building incorporated into plans for the regeneration of the area.
Developer Realis Estates last month submitted an outline planning application to redevelop around Hanley bus station, a scheme which would swallow up the Coachmakers and other businesses in the row at the top of Lichfield Street.
One of those backing the pub’s campaign is Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Mark Fisher, who has lodged a formal objection to the demolition and urged the city council to help preserve the historic pub.
He said: “The Coachmakers is an important part of our heritage which ought to be included in the development of this site.
“We have not got many pubs like this left, it is popular and is an important part of the city’s history.”
It is believed the building was built in the early 19th century and was originally two dwellings.
After becoming a beer house between 1860 and 1870, it acquired a licence to sell spirits around 1910.
Jason and Sue hope their supporters will influence the planners and now hope that the thousands of supporters will influence planners, but believe that the campaign is not over yet.
Sue said: “A lot of people have assumed that because the initial planning application has gone in it is all over and done with.
“But nothing is set in stone and all it means is that there is an area where the developer wants to do certain things.
“The campaign is still there to win.”
Stoke-on-Trent City Council is still accepting representations relating to the development but interested parties will need to submit their views as soon as possible.
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by ian, Hanley
Tuesday, January 06 2009, 1:38PM
“I can't believe there is a debate about keeping a boozer for adults use only, which doesn't benefit hanley in terms of social or economic issues, like the Retail and Leisure Centre will (inially creating hundreds of much needed construction jobs and then hundreds of retail staff.). And the knock on effects of attracting in office workers, restuarants, and improvements to the bus station and public squares. We can't incorporate it in the design, Hanley needs to rid he mix match architecture of recent decades.”
by denis, sneyd green
Thursday, November 06 2008, 10:00AM
“Im all for progress and improving our city, but the coachmakers is a part of hanley's heritige and should be kept where it is and incorperated into the changes being made. The pub if you hav'nt been in it is a throw back to the old days. A good pint and atmospher is great and it's a real credit to Jason and sue for keeping a good "house" Both myself and my 2 mate's(better know to Jason as" Lager,Lager dash and worthy) have been going in there for a few years and I believe we were Jason and Sue's 1st customers. I really hope every body's hard work doesn't go to waste and the pub will be here for a very long time come.”
by Anthony, Fenton
Thursday, November 06 2008, 9:53AM
“I would love to see the coachmakers saved but lets not forget that the surrounding area (especially the bus station) is a dump and that a new shopping centre would create more jobs for the city and make hanley less of an eyesore. Surely a good thing??”
by David, Fenton
Thursday, November 06 2008, 9:42AM
“It was also done locally when the original Kings Arms in Meir was relocated on the other side of the Broadway. But would moving or saving The Coachmakers Arms benefit the interested parties involved in the regeneration of our city? I dont think so, because its all about money and what can be made out of our city for the benefit of outsiders.
Even with 7,500 signitures presented to our council, the planned development will still go ahead. Why? Because the people dont understand who is dictating regeneration and why its so important to them.”
by Nathan, Maybank
Thursday, November 06 2008, 9:25AM
“It would cost more to move it than to work around it.This pub is one of the best going in stoke-on-trent and there any many left.I for one would be dissapointed if it is not saved.”