Bid to save '˜iconic' waterway pub from turning into flats

A planning application has been submitted to Boston Borough Council regarding the plans for the Witham Tavern

However, members of the Save The Witham Tavern group believe the pub should be saved and run as part of the regeneration of the waterways in the town.

At a meeting held at The Eagle, on West Street, last Monday, members said the closure of the pub would be a ‘serious loss’.

One member of the public Nigel Smith said: “It would be a great loss to the community, for the boaters, those who walk along the river and all sorts of people.”

Julien Thompson pointed to a a report from 2008 from Boston Area Regeneration Company in partnership with Boston Borough Council which said: “The long term aim of the Boston Waterways Development Plan is to enable Boston to maximise the potential of the borough’s waterways.”

Mr Thompson said keeping the pub open would be one of the key ways of achieving the objective.

Labour councillor Paul Gleeson, has called the application in, meaning it has to be discussed at committee.

He said: “What we have is a pub in a prime location - a key location for the regeneration of that area so to lose it as a pub would be a mistake.”

The group have already made a bid for the property to be listed as a Community Asset, which would have meant the owner would have had to give them six months to make an offer should they decide to sell – however this was rejected.

In making its decision the council said the owner had demonstrated the pub had ‘poor customer base’ and said ‘there are at least two other pubs in very close proximity’.

It said the pub had a history of being unprofitable and that no sports teams operated from the pub.

The Standard understands the pub has been offered to the campaign group to purchase - at a price of £275,000.

Owner of the Witham Tavern Christine Guille refused to comment.