The Riverside Inn, which searched today by counter-terrorism police, has been empty for some time.

Pub across Herefordshire, as they are in the rest of the country, are closing as drinking habits and trade business models change.

The coronvirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have only served to put some of them under greater pressure. 

There were plans in 2016 to re-open the Riverside while also building three homes on its car park.

But Herefordshire Council turned down the scheme for the two-bedroom homes and two three-bedroom homes.

Planners at the time said the application would “diminish the viability of a community facility and economic resource without adequate justification or marketing and lead to that facility being at a long-term risk, restricting its capacity, functionality and ability to expand and diversify”.

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Counter-terrorism police search empty Herefordshire pub

They said the new homes would affect the viability of the pub,and that there was no need to build homes in a vulnerable flood zone.

Concerns about the state of the pub were raised in 2018 at a meeting of Ross Town Council.

Resident Joyce Thomas said: “It really is in an appalling condition. It is in a dilapidated state. It has been vandalised. People live in it, I believe. 

“There is a broken window. It is currently boarded up. It has been uncared for for years.

“This was once a very desirable restaurant in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

"It is the first dwelling that tourists see as they enter Wye Street from Wilton Bridge. 

“There is the beautiful River Wye overshadowed by this very bad, neglected property.

"Why hasn’t it been sorted out?"

Caroline Utting, chairman of the town’s planning committee at the time, said: “I agree with you wholeheartedly and everything you have said about the Riverside Inn.” 

She said the planning committee has contacted Herefordshire Council planning department about the eyesore. 

Councillor Richard Mayo said it had been the subject of enforcement action to remove rubbish from outside. 

“If there is anything that can be done then we will support it.”

It is not known who currently owns the pub, or what their plans for it are.

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