Hankelow White Lion meeting

The meeting was held on the 15th August in Hankelow Methodist Rooms. It considered two main issues

• For Hankelow parishioners to advise the Parish Council whether they should support or oppose the application for demolition of the White Lion
• Provide a forum to discuss if there is sufficient interest in developing a community based co-operative proposal to buy and run the White Lion

The meeting was attended by about sixty people, most of them Hankelow residents, although there was a sprinkling of Flash Harries from the nearby vibrant city of Audlem,

It was made clear that this was not a Parish Council meeting – it was convened primarily so that local residents could express their views to help the Parish Council determine the best way forward.

Planning application

Hankelow residents voted overwhelmingly to ask the Parish Council to oppose the application.

The main feeling was that a 250-year old building which has been at the social centre of the village for so long should not be demolished without a fight. Paradoxically, it was suggested that if the White Lion were to go then house values in Hankelow would fall, thus defeating the developers' objectives.

It was stressed that individuals should also register their objections by writing to Cheshire East. Opposition must be on good planning grounds – highways issues are unlikely to be relevant given the recent imposition of a 30mph zone in Hankelow.

Rachel Bailey informed the meeting that the planning application has been "called in" which means that it will be considered by the full Committee.

Objections to the planning proposal can be lodged up until August 31st

Community Asset

Hankelow Parish Council has applied to Cheshire East for the White Lion to be designated as an ACV (Asset of Community Value), and the response is expected very shortly The effect of this, if granted, would be to make the local community a "stakeholder" in the future of the building – if there were a proposal to demolish it, then the community could investigate the possibility of an alternative plan, and there would be a period of six months for them to put together a serious bid to buy the property.

Many residents were convinced that the White Lion would be viable as a pub if run properly – there are funds and charities (such as the Plunkett Foundation) which exist to provide funding for this kind of enterprise.

Several additional functions which a community run White Lion might provide included shop, library and even a medical centre.

The meeting backed the proposal to set up a working group to consider how such a community pub could be organised and run, The Parish Council representatives asked for anyone interested in the work to register their interest and an initial meeting will be set up very quickly.

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