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BENEFICE
OF LITTLE HADHAM WITH ALBURY
CHURCHES OF ST CECILIA & ST mARY THE VIRGIN |
1st July 2005
Mr Giles Thorley
Chief Executive
Punch Taverns plc
Jubilee House
Staffordshire - DE14 2WF
Dear Mr Thorley
I am writing to you regarding the pub at Albury in Hertfordshire. The pub called the Catherine Wheel burnt down last year.
As the Priest in Charge of the Parish of Albury I have been involved with the pub during the four years I have been here. It is an important focus for the community along with the School, the Church and the Village Hall. A couple of years ago I undertook a ‘Job Swap’ with the then landlord Lee Goodship, who was keen to forge closer links with the community. The result was that we received national and international coverage on television, radio and in the press. In addition we raised £2000 for a project to build a path from the school to the church – through the churchyard, including renovating a small courtyard. This provides safe access for the children between school and church, avoiding a walk along the country road.
The people of the Parish were devastated when the pub burnt down, and I have a petition signed by more than a 100 ‘locals’ for its reinstatement.
Following the fire I called a meeting in the Village Hall and a small committee was set up to see what could be done to ensure the pub was rebuilt. I chair that committee.
We have asked for a meeting with representatives of Punch Taverns, and have been turned down. This we find difficult to understand. There have been several ideas, from people in the local community, which it is felt, might enhance the pub in the Village, and we thought it worth passing these on and to encourage Punch Taverns to rebuild.
I now understand that plans have been drawn up for a rebuild, and further we hear from Steve Loomes, the landlord at the time of the fire, that rebuilding will commence this month finishing in October, and that they have completed a business plan and signed a contract to be the new pubs landlord.
On checking with East Herts Planning Department I am told they have no application for planning permission from Punch Taverns.
Further we submitted to Punch a ‘Press Release’ for your approval, this was done by Geoff Miller – a member of the committee, but that you have not agreed to its publication.
We are grateful however for your statements that your are committed to rebuild, but I am saddened that you are not prepared to meet with the committee, and thus be seen to consider what the community, the locals, might have to propose, which might be, and I think they are, good valid suggestions.
I am retiring as ‘Priest in Charge’ in the middle of September, and would like to be able to go knowing the pub rebuild is on its way.
I would like to meet with yourself, or a representative, and agree a press release and to publicise a timetable for the rebuild and opening of the new pub. If this meeting could be with our small committee, that would be very helpful.
The committee are at a point where they feel we should release something locally, but I think it would be better for this to be a joint statement as I am sure you would want to work with local communities however small, after all they are your customers.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Tony Raven
Priest in Charge
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The Vicarage,
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