Pub campaigners celebrate their summer

Pub lovers who are campaigning to stop their local being turned into houses clubbed together to celebrate Midsummer's Day last week.

The Summer Cross pub in Otley, West Yorkshire was closed and then bought by developer Chartford Homes in October.

Members of the Save our Summer Cross (SOS) pressure group, led by MP and Publican ​columnist Greg Mulholland, gathered outside it on June 21 to let the housing company know that they are still active, and expect the award-winning pub to reopen.

Chartford Homes' recent application to build 14 houses on the site was rejected by Leeds City Council, giving the campaigners hope for the future.

They argue the pub was enjoying a new lease of life when it was closed, winning a coveted award from the Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) and should carry on trading.

Leeds North West MP Mulholland, said: "Summer Cross locals should be toasting Midsummer's Day in the fine beer garden, the biggest in Otley. Instead it is fenced off because of the greed of Chartford Homes who want to bulldoze the place and replace with a money spinning development against local people's wishes.

"It is time they gave the community back its pub and allowed people to enjoy summer in the Summer Cross. This time our glasses our empty, but local people will keep campaigning until the pub is open again and I look forward to joining them for a proper toast when that happens."

Chartford Homes has said it still intends to develop the site.