News Council to help protect Walnut Tree in Loose
Maidstone Borough Council has agreed to register the Walnut Tree public house in Loose as an asset of community value for the second time, which provides it with protection from change of use for up to five years.
This protection makes it more difficult for the site to be sold and redeveloped during this time. Helping to protect the public house so it can continue to be enjoyed by the local community.
The public house, which is 168 years old, was the first pub in Maidstone to have been granted an asset of community value status five years ago.
As part of the application The Walnut Tree Preservation Group provided comprehensive evidence showing that the pub is very well used and remains an integral part of the community.
The evidence included details of eight regular sports teams that use the pub, three local groups which regularly use it as a meeting facility and monthly events. The application also included a list of names and signatures from 121 local residents who supported the nomination, as well as letters of support from local groups and clubs.
Landlord Cliff Burke said:
We are very proud of the support of the locals. We actively continue to help make it an inclusive pub for all age groups and walks of life to serve the local community.
Leader of Maidstone Borough Council Martin Cox said:
We are pleased to be able to demonstrate our support for this much valued local pub and the community it serves.
"We welcome requests from anyone who would like to nominate places and spaces in their communities that are important to their local community. Libraries, community centres, pubs, village shops or green spaces that are of value to the community they serve can be nominated as an asset of community value. Once certain criteria are met, we can then consider the request.
"If an application is successful the group can then use the Community Right to Bid if this asset ever comes up for sale, the community can have up to six months to raise the funds to bid for it."
The Localism Act introduced a Community Right to Bid for Assets of Value to the Community. The aim is to ensure that buildings and amenities can be kept in public use and remain an integral part of community life.
For more information about how to nominate an Asset of Community Value please click on the link: Community Right to Bid