SIR Gavin Williamson has nominated the Crooked House pub site to be listed as an Asset of Community Value to boost its chances of being rebuilt.
The South Staffordshire MP met campaigners at South Staffordshire District Council and attended a gathering on the six-month anniversary of the destruction of the historic Himley pub which was reduced to rubble last August 7.
The loss of the beloved wonky pub sparked outrage from fans of the famous boozer, which gained its iconic appearance due to subsidence as a result of 19th century mining in the area.
Since it was bulldozed last August after a fire, which is being treated as arson, locals and fans of the Crooked House, which dated back to the 18th century, have been campaigning to see it rebuilt ‘brick by brick’.
By way of support, the area’s MP Sir Gavin Williamson has confirmed he has nominated the pub site as an Asset of Community Value.
Once listed as such with the local authority, the designation means the community will be informed when the site is listed for sale. Locals could then enact the Community Right to Bid, which would see the site handed over for community restoration.
Sir Gavin said: “By nominating the site as an Asset of Community Value, I’m hoping to provide the opportunity for the re-building to take place.
“What happened here will not be forgotten, and we’re doing all we can to bring back an important piece of Staffordshire heritage.”
Crooked House campaigner Paul Turner said: “We know this site has value historically.
“We’re aiming to get it rebuilt.
“We’ve been told by Westminster City Council that one of the first things they did with a pub called the Carlton Tavern which was demolished, is that they put an Asset of Community Value application in, and the reason for that was to increase its value and to push the legal case to get the government to agree to re-build it.”
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