CAMRA fights to block house bid at much-loved Wellington pub

Housing developers Choice Circle has applied to Herefordshire Council to build a three-bed house at the rear of the Wellington Inn, or The Old Boot, north of Hereford off the A49.

As part of the plan, the firm also wants to demolish the conservatory to make way for an outdoor seating area. It was part of its aim to "support the viability of the business".

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Community Wellington Inn, the company formed by passionate local residents wanting to reopen the pub which closed in 2019, said it strongly objected to the plan and was "devastated" to hear of Choice Circle's intentions to build a house on the site.

It has since said it expects a decision on the bid, submitted in November 2022, "imminently". The group had been raising money to try and buy the pub before it was sold to a higher bidder.

The Herefordshire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) was one of 86 people and groups to object to the plan before the consultation closed.

While CAMRA said it wasn't always against such plans, it said it was in this case as the proposal would undermine the pub's viability and harm the potential to develop a business in the future.

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"The Wellington is the only pub in the village of Wellington; there is no alterntive pub within walking distance," it said.

"It is a long-standing and much-valued community facility, that also provides important and scarce employment opportunity and economic activity in a rural settlement."

Giving four reasons for its objection, CAMRA said the plan would impact on the commercial viability of the pub, with the beer garden halved in size and the conservatory demolished.

It said the plan would also cause a conflict of amenity, with the two-storey house close to the pub.

The group[ also said the plan would have a long-term negative impact on the local community facility, the village's only pub.

Its fourth reason was that there had been inadequate marketing of the premises.