White Lion's Future in the balance

White Lion's Future In Balance

The fate of the White Lion, Hankelow's 200 year old public house, will be decided by the Cheshire East Southern Planning Committee this Wednesday.The planning application by Timothy Gutteridge, owner of the White Lion, is for the pub to be demolished to make way for 5 four bedroomed detached houses.

If granted, this will radically alter the traditional English character of Hankelow where the Inn forms the heart of the village overlooking a green.

A 'Save the White Lion' group was established in August when notification of the planning application was received and attended by 56 Hankelow residents and neighbouring parishes. A steering group was established and a draft business plan drawn up based on the successful Hind's Head, Norton-in-Hales, model; however, all approaches to meet with Mr Gutteridge were refused.

The planning department has recommended acceptance, but Councillor Rachel Bailey, mindful of the social impact the loss of meeting places has on village sustainability, has requested the development to be discussed by CEC Southern Planning Committee Councillors at the Council Chamber in Crewe this Wednesday, 23rd November from 10:00am.

Retaining the White Lion as an integral part of the community is not about preventing change, but rather a challenge to inappropriate development without exploring other opportunities.

Over the past 5 years, 12 new dwellings have been built within the village and foundation work has commenced on 7 more with a further 22 houses expected to be built in 2017, on completion the village will have increased by over 40% within15 years.

As recognised by recent successive governments, public houses provide important social 'glue' that strengthens their communities and community run pubs are a growing part of rural and urban settlements. There is the opportunity to develop the White Lion into an Inn that provides a wide range of community services run by, and on behalf of, the community.

Fine, it might not work, but by knocking it down we will never know.Both Hankelow Parish Council and the Save the White Lion group will use their opportunity to speak against the proposal and any support from the community would be welcomed.

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