Village licensee fights plans to demolish pub

The licensee of a village pub has launched a campaign to keep his outlet open, despite plans to demolish the building.

David Fletcher took over the tenancy of the Foresters Arms in Yoxall, East Staffordshire in July and since then has more than doubled the weekly takings.

But just six weeks after he moved into the Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries outlet, he heard rumours of a plan to demolish it.

"I took over the pub from a holding company at the beginning of July on the understanding it would be for six, 12 or even 18 months," Mr Fletcher said.

"When I heard the rumours I rang my manager who said to carry on as usual. Then I was told a planning application had been received by the council."

Mr Fletcher and his regulars organised themselves into a campaign group, called the Wood Lane Seven - after the address of the pub. They have written to East Staffordshire Borough Council to object to the planning application and are recruiting more supporters from the area.

"When I decided to take the tenancy I had a choice of two pubs and I chose this one because I used to drink here some years ago and I could see it had potential," Mr Fletcher said.

"I've spent a lot of money and time on improving the pub and I don't want it to go to waste."

The council is due to decide the pub's fate at a planning meeting on September 10.