West Londoners petition council to prevent pub demolition

22-Mar-2019 - Last updated on 22-Mar-2019 at 16:03 GMT

Community hub: residents say social isolation has increased since the closure of the Goldsmiths Arms (image: Rod Allday, Geograph)

West London residents have petitioned their local council in order to prevent an historic pub from being demolished to make way for housing.

The Goldsmiths Arms – known as ‘the Goldies’ – in East Acton, London, was more than a pub, according to the local residents’ association.

The pub was sold by Greene King to a property developer in October 2017.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Jacqueline Davis said the pub had nurtured a community spirit in the area.

She said: “Its closure came as a shock to the community. Many residents have fond memories of playing in the large beer garden as children and then taking their own children and grandchildren there for a treat. The large function room hosted baptisms, birthday parties, weddings and wakes.

“As young people grew up and left Acton, they would always return to meet up with old friends in the ‘Goldies’ as it was affectionately known.”

Missing the fun

Davis added: “It was the place to go and celebrate when friends and family got together.

Residents have been campaigning to keep the pub a pub

“Now older people who would often have lunch and read the paper in the pub are missing their old friends and find they are spending more and more time alone in their homes. Children are missing the fun they had playing in the garden.

“Residents miss their pub but, more than this, they miss each other.”

A petition titled ‘Keep the Goldsmiths Arms a pub’ has gained more than 2,000 signatures and asks Ealing Council to back residents’ campaign.

There has been a pub on the site of the Goldsmiths Arms since 1819.

Ealing Council said it was in the early stages of processing a planning application submitted by Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing for a residential development.