Cambridgeshire village pub dubbed 'pillar of the community' could be saved
Plans to demolish a Cambridgeshire village pub described as a one-of-a-kind building have been recommended to be refused. The Three Horseshoes, on March Road in Turves, is the only pub in the area.
The application was put forward by the owners in February 2024. If approved, it would see the building knocked down and five three-bedroom detached houses built on the site.
The pub dates back to 1860 and is described by many as 'a pillar of the community'. However, it has been listed as 'permanently closed' and was put up for sale earlier this year at an asking price of £350,000.
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Several residents have objected to the plans and expressed concerns that the village will be left without a pub. One person said: "It is a much loved landmark with so much history. It would be an absolute shame to lose this one-of-a-kind building."
Another person added: "To demolish the pub would be an abomination, ruining the history of the village. Who wants to live in a village just comprising of houses and nothing else?"
Other people voted in support of the application, saying it will be "an improvement for the village" and that the pub was "no longer viable". A design and access statement from Morton & Hall added that the site was within the proposed development boundary and therefore suitable for residential development.
However, the plans were recommended for refusal by planning officers due to not demonstrating the pub was no longer financially viable. They added that there were no alternative uses of a community space to replace the loss of the facility and that it would result in "a significant detrimental impact to the settlement and its residents".
A decision on the application is due to be made by Fenland District Council on Wednesday (September 18). The plans can be viewed in full on the council's planning portal, using the reference F/YR24/0145/O or clicking here.
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