Call for review of pub closure

Toddington Parish Council last week agreed to object formally to plans for housing on the site of the former Bedford Arms pub, which was sold by brewery Charles Wells.

Kensworth Builders want to build four four-bedroom houses on the site, and convert the adjacent florist’s shop into a three-bedroom home. Plans for the pub building itself – which is Grade II listed and believed to date from the 16th century – have not yet been lodged.

Councillor Richard Hagan, in charge of planning, told the meeting on Tuesday night that under the Localism Bill, the closure of pubs is “forbidden unless special conditions prevail”.

“Pubs in Cambridgeshire and Herefordshire have been turned back into pubs after appeal at the developer’s expense,” he said.

“Central Bedfordshire Council’s draft development strategy stresses the importance of public houses to the rural economy.”

Acting council chairman Tony Lines said: “They’ve got to prove that the business has failed. I’ve seen no evidence of that.”