Robert has written to West Oxfordshire District Council to express his continued support for the campaign to reopen the White Horse pub in Stonesfield following the uncertain situation surrounding the future of the pub.
The pub closed during the pandemic and, despite an extraordinary effort from the Stonesfield community, which raised sufficient funds to offer the asking price of £395,000, the pub was eventually sold another bidder in January 2021. Despite promises from the new owner that he intended to reopen the pub, this has never come to pass. It has since been suggested that the owner is seeking to sell the pub to a property investment company in London.
Robert's letter to Cllr Jeff Haine, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, notes how "in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and the pub’s status as a Community Asset, Mr Bowers must notify the District Council of his intention to sell the property. This will then trigger the ‘Community Right to Bid’ moratorium, during which the community will have six months to prepare a bid. Has Mr Bowers notified WODC of his intention to sell the pub and, if so, please could you confirm when this moratorium will begin?"
Furthermore how: "Stonesfield residents and I are understandably concerned that the potential new owners of the pub will, in due course, seek to make an application with the District Council for a change of use for the property (from pub to residential), citing that it is unviable to run it as a pub.
"I am therefore writing pre-emptively to place on my record my view that any such change of use application should be rejected."
Speaking after sending the letter, Robert said: "The campaign to reopen the White Horse as a successful village pub continues. West Oxfordshire is home to a wide array of thriving village pubs and I have no doubt that Stonesfield can and should boast a pub that the entire local community can enjoy. I will continue to work closely with the local community towards this shared goal."
You can read Robert's letter to WODC below.
