VILLAGERS worried their only pub could be lost because a buyer has not been secured are looking into having it listed as a community asset to give them time to raise funds to purchase it.
The Stanwick Arms, in Aldbrough St John, closed last September when long-standing tenants left to pursue other interests and the bar’s reluctant owner, Ian Todd, put it on the market. However despite there being a “lot of interest” it is still on the market.
A nomination to list the property as an asset of community value was made in December and notification was confirmed by Richmondshire District Council on January 8.
It means residents interested in listing as an asset have until March 18 to take the application to the next stage.
Residents have organised a public meeting at Aldbrough village hall on Monday, March 11, at 7.30pm to see if there is enough interest in taking the process any further.
Resident Janet Hall, who has helped organise the meeting, said: “The meeting is to see if there is any interest and realistic prospect of putting a bid together to buy The Stanwick Arms as a community pub.
“If everyone decided they want to proceed with a request the community
would have six months to raise the funds to realistically buy it.”
Mrs Hall said that registering the property as an asset of community value would allow villagers six months, safe in the knowledge the property could not be sold during the moratorium period.
However, Mr Todd would not be under any obligation to sell to the community group.
There were many other pubs in the village in the 19th century. Local legend has it that these were closed down by the dowager Duchess of Northumberland after she was “disrespected by drinkers” who had gathered outside on a Sunday and “did not doff their caps” as she went by in her carriage.
