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The voice of Hillam village, North Yorkshire. Delivered free to all residents. Volume 23, Issue 2. April — May 2011
Residents offer to run the Cross Keys The Cross Keys presents a forlorn sight at the centre of the village. No warm fire to welcome visitors, only a sign to say “Closed until further notice”. Will the recent fire which closed the Cross Keys be the last straw that results in its permanent closure? This is something that one group of villagers have become very concerned about and have asked the landlords of the pub about their intentions. In their approach to the pub owners they have even gone as far as floating the idea of making it into a “Community Pub”. Fear of demolition to make way for housing
Support from Nigel Adams, MP
In their letter to the owners of the pub the group stated - “There is no wish by the community to see the pub disappear, or the premises perhaps be disposed of for other uses, and should this be the intention the village would wish to try to continue with it as a community pub, but under its own direction.” There is good reason to fear that a village pub might be demolished because the demand for housing is so great and the site the pub sits on is in a prime position in the village. It is a common problem that buildings be allowed to deteriorate when they become un-occupied. Once they fall into a dilapidated state demolition often follows, although it might take years, during which time the building is simply an eyesore.
The group have made Nigel Adams aware of the problem and he has offered his support. The problem is not unique to Hillam or Selby District and Nigel Adams had already been active in dealing with this issue through a private members bill he submitted last year. He had started with the problem of pubs being demolished and this was part of the bill that he had proposed. The title of the Bill was the Protection of Local Service (Planning) Bill and it was designed to give local planning authorities in England the power to “opt in” to protect local services from conversion to another use or demolition without the need for a developer to apply for and be granted planning permission. Local services include but are not limited to pubs, post offices, community buildings, open spaces and local shops as defined in accordance with the Sustainable Communities Act 2007.
Encouraging response from the Landlords The response was brief but positive with the owners saying that as soon as the insurance is sorted out the pub will re-open as they see the pub as one with “great potential”. They also said that they had no intention of selling the pub for alternative use at this time. Hopefully the insurance payments will be sorted out soon and the repair work commenced. Having an empty building at the centre of the village is creating a run down appearance.
Also in this issue… Plans for 7000 new houses - find out how many might be built in Hillam.
Or 32 caravans on a field near you - Subject to planning approval of course.
How the problem started The Cross Keys has been closed since Friday February 18th when a fire, which began in a deep fat fryer, destroyed the kitchen and left the bar area badly damaged. Business owners Barracks Inns Ltd of Wakefield Road, Pontefract had replaced Lee and Chris with a new manageress five days before the fire occurred.
Mobile skate park coming in April
Come on , say what you think -
- another chance to do some grinding, and show off your ollies.
Hillam Parish Council ask what you want them to do for you with your extra money.
Sit back and relax - Bens dragon has been slain and there have been no recent sightings of the Hillam Common ghost.
The wires are down and the gulleys are up - latest trends on local crime, how
Grand plans for the post office -
Poo corner - hopefully a unique feature
more local organic produce.
article, enough is enough.
But it’s now too late to object.
Byram wind farm - Only a few days left to object to the test mast.
Selby get tough with illegal building Pied Wagtails arrive & Whoopers - so what will happen next? leave - by overnight flight to Iceland.
you can help to improve security.
On yer bike - cycling with a mission Charity bike ride to race Tour de France.
Editor for this issue - Howard Ferguson HILLAM NEWS is financed solely by advertising revenue and the generosity of contributors, photocopiers and distributors. The Editor is solely responsible for the paper’s contents. If you have a view you would like published, or if you wish to advertise, phone David Atkinson on 684577 or email at dsa99uk@yahoo.co.uk.