Mulholland slams council over pub conversion plans

Outspoken pro-pub campaigner Greg Mulholland has slammed Leeds City Council for granting planning permission to turn a popular pub into a care home.

The Summercross in Otley closed in October 2007 after 140 years of business, despite claims it was still popular and profitable.

Mulholland joined locals in the Save our Summercross campaign to re-open the pub.

However, Leeds City Council officers approved the planning application and the plans panel rubber stamped their decision today.

"This is a sad day for Otley, over 140 years of history has been ignored so that developers can have their way," said Mulholland.

"The Summercross was a successful pub and a focus for the community, closed against the wishes of the licensee by greedy developers who wanted to make money from the site.

"Other local authorities have shown that they do value and protect community pubs, but it is clear that Leeds City Council planning department do not.

"This case was about a simple moral principle that it is wrong to close profitable pubs, indeed any business just to exploit them for money making development, this principle has been completed ignored."