Don't bulldoze our pub (From Daily Echo)

Campaign to save New Inn pub at Swanmore

5:10pm Tuesday 7th February 2012 in Fareham By Julian Robinson, Eastleigh Chief Reporter

Ray Freshwater and other campaigners who are hoping to save the New Inn in Swanmore

A CAMPAIGN is under way to block developers from bulldozing a muchloved Hampshire pub.

The New Inn at Swanmore has been closed since October and plans are afoot to turn the 19th century watering-hole in to four new homes.

But villagers have been left outraged by the proposals to demolish what they have described as the “heart” of their community.

A first application to develop the site has gone to appeal prompting a petition signed by dozens of residents.

But a second full application containing fresh proposals has since been launched and villagers are already bombarding planning bosses with letters of objection.

The pub’s brewery, Greene King, has said that an “extensive property review” found it was no longer viable as a business.

The most recent plans, submitted by Andrew Scott, involve replacing the pub with a mixture of two, three and four bedroom houses.

Nobody was available from the pub to discuss the matter while the developers declined to comment.