A BOARDED-UP pub in Helsby will become a ‘breeding ground’ for anti-social behaviour after plans to build 14 new homes were rejected.
Homeowner Andrew Lucas, 38, of nearby Mill Rise, has been left angered by a decision to reject the proposal at the Horse And Jockey pub, Chester Road – thought to be Helsby’s oldest public house.
Mr Lucas , a local government officer, said: “The site is an eyesore. We have been left with a boarded-up premises. In this economic crisis we should be grateful that someone wanted to do something with it.
“We have had issues with youth crime, people driving to the car park, making noise. It is a breeding ground for anti-social behaviour. This isn’t a solution to the problem.
“I drive past the building every day. There used to be concrete blocks to stop people entering the car park but there aren’t any now.
“If people had used it as a pub and it was a viable business the brewery wouldn’t have closed it. It won’t be a pub again. Something needs to be done.”
Lead councillor for Vale Royal Les Ford, who lives about 200 meters from the site, used his powers to call the proposal in at the planning committee.
Now Mr Lucas is taking the decision to the standards board, a government agency which monitors ethical standards of authorities, because he feels Cllr Ford should have declared an interest in the plans.
He said: “My grievance is the project was called in at the request of Les Ford because of the impact on the surrounding area. He has a property near to the site and didn’t declare an interest to the committee.”
Cllr Ford replied by saying: “I was against it because it was overcrowded and overdeveloped with not enough car parking, and the building is itself historic. It was an unsustainable development. I was exercising my right as a local councillor to call such a matter in. It wouldn’t matter if I had declared an interest or not, that is the way the rules run.”
A Cheshire West and Chester spokesman, said: “Members have the right, as part of the planning process, to call in applications for consideration by the planning committee – as happened in this case. This is a regular occurrence and is part of a well-established system of checks on planning applications.”
