CAMPAIGNERS battling to save the Raven Inn at Glazebury are delighted to have the “powerful voice” of their local MP Charlotte Nichols behind them, with the historic building up for auction this Thursday (March 31).
Ms Nichols has written a letter of support for the pub building, which is an Asset of Community Value, to be retained for the benefit of the community.
In a letter that has been forwarded to the auctioneers/agents, she wrote: “I am writing to strongly support the community bid to buy and preserve the Raven Inn at next week’s auction. I do this both as the local Member of Parliament for Warrington North, and as the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on pubs.
“As the local MP, I know the value that residents and others place on this 450-year-old building, which has been recognised as an Asset of Community Value, prized as a piece of our local heritage. Ongoing investigations into the building’s historical significance take us back to the Civil War and are not yet concluded. Multiple planning applications to demolish the pub have previously been rejected.
“It is cherished as an asset, while demolition and alternate use for additional housing units here would constitute overdevelopment merging the villages of Glazebury and Culcheth, in addition to the additional pressures that would be put on local streets and parking places.
“In my capacity as Chair of the Pubs APPG, I know that too many of our historic pubs are being wiped out across the country, and the prospect instead of restoring a community pub in this site would give huge value to the local area and form an object of pride for the people who live here. During lockdown a record 40 pubs a week were closing nationwide, many lost forever. Communities that lose their pubs lose the hub that binds people together; purchasing the Raven Inn for the residents of Glazebury would ensure a valued resource that would be widely appreciated: a community pub that reflects and provides for local need.
“I hope that you will take these strong and widely-held views into account, and urge you to award the Inn to the community bid.”
Peter Sturman from the Help Save the Raven Inn campaign group said: “We are delighted to have such strong support from Charlotte. Not only as our MP but, as she says in her letter, also as chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Pubs. A very powerful voice!
“One of many good points to pick up on, is the fact that development of the Raven would effectively merge Glazebury and Culcheth.
“This point has been a very important argument against the failed planning applications and should, in itself, dissuade any would-be developer from bidding for the Raven. The Raven sits on the green belt between the two villages.
“The Help Save the Raven group have been very busy over the weekend, and again today. We will be equally active between now and the auction.
“Our community is fantastic. We will fight for the Raven right up to the last minute.”
The building is due to go under the auctioneer’s hammer this Thursday, March 31.
Peaceful pickets continue campaign to save historic Raven Inn
