Bosses at a Lichfield pub threatened with redevelopment have confirmed they have been told to leave the premises within a month.
The Greyhound Inn has been earmarked for new housing, with part of the site to be demolished.
A campaign to save the pub has been backed by locals, including the Mayor of Lichfield.
A spokesperson for the pub’s licensee declined to comment directly on the situation, but confirmed they had been served with a notice to leave by 15th August.
It comes despite planning chiefs not yet making a final decision on whether or not the new development can be approved.
The notice will also mean the closure of the Two Chefs takeaway business which operates from the site.
Alba Construction – which owns the site – is hoping to build ten new properties on the land, as well as demolishing the single storey section of the existing pub building.
In a planning statement, the developer said the building had been “previously used” as a pub.
But a number of formal objections to the proposal have claimed the statement was taking advantage of the enforced coronavirus closure, with the business since reopening in line with Government guidance.
In a letter to the planning authority while the pub was closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the licensee said:
“We are only currently closed due to Government guidelines and restrictions.
“Our aim is to reopen as soon as possible to continue to provide the much loved and recently missed public house for each and every one of our customers.”
Greyhound Inn licensee’s letter to the planning committee
Others objecting to the site said the loss of the pub would have an impact on the community.
“This is a very popular community pub with a darts teams, a bridge club and golf section – all of these would be lost.
“There is also the fact that several of the visitors have to use mobility scooters and trying to go further afield would cause distress.”
Letter of objection
Full details of the proposals can be seen on Lichfield District Council’s planning website.
