Long road ahead for demolished Carlton Tavern

The council announced its intention to issue the notice last week but formally decided to proceed at a meeting held on Tuesday. 

Conservative Councillor Jan Prendergast urged the committee to take action at the meeting, which was widely attended by the pub community including CAMRA and the Protect our Pubs campaign, as well by members of the general public.

CAMRA pub protection officer James Watson warned that although the meeting was a positive step, there is still a long road ahead before the Carlton Tavern is restored to all its former glory.

Watson said: “It was great to see such a turnout even though the meeting was rubber stamping the inevitable. The meeting was quite an unusual step in the planning process but the council wants to make sure they have every t crossed as in such a big and high profile case, the developer is very likely to appeal.

“He will have 28 days to appeal the notice from when it was issued. Enforcement appeals are usually heard by public enquiry, a process that takes another six months at least. Even after that, the developers will have 18 months to rebuild the pub because it’s such a detailed process.”

Developers CLTX Ltd failed to send a formal request to the council inquiring whether the pub, which has stood since the 1920s, had been listed as an asset of community value. Demolition would not have been allowed in the 56 days following the request.