Man who moved into local pub ordered out by council
Satwinder Sandhu made Goring Heath’s the White Lion his family home after buying it from Greene King in 2013. The council became concerned after receiving reports that the bar, catering kitchen and signage had been removed from the pub and issued an enforcement notice giving the family 12 months to leave, which was appealed.
However, planning officer Jeremy Sargent dismissed the appeal and ruled that the pub was an ‘essential community facility.’
Sargent said that the loss of the pub would lead to less social cohesion and that the pubs prominent location on a crossroad meant it could work.
The family had argued that there were other pubs in the area locals could use and that running the pub wasn’t economically viable.
Sandhu has planned to turn the pub into an Indian restaurant but a viability appraisal revealed that a restaurant wouldn’t work in the location. He told a local newspaper: “We are going to continue discussion with the council with the aim of resolving the viability issues as we’ve had no offers for the premises.”