Dear Mr Lewis,

 

We are writing to object to the new planning application for change of use of the Bishop Blaize public house in Burdrop to a private dwelling.

 

There are several reasons why we feel this application should not be granted and why our village pub should not be de-licensed.

 

Firstly, the pub was not only viable, but was a thriving and well-patronised business. If the pub were to be reopened and well managed, locals and those visiting from further afield would most certainly make good use of it. The keen desire of the villagers to fight for the Bishop Blaize to remain as a public house surely confirms this opinion.

 

Further to this, we understand that there were many notes of interest when the pub was put up for auction which suggests that, with the return of genuine professional management, the place would thrive again.

 

However, the most important point to make is that village pubs of this age and character are rare indeed and given the current climate and frequency of pub closures it is imperative that it is kept open for people to enjoy. An individual who arrived in this village with the clear intention of depriving the community of a much-loved centre in favour of private gain should not be allowed to achieve his ends and this historic building must be preserved as it has been since 1640, as the heart of the community.

 

We object to this planning application in the strongest possible terms and hope that our objections will be upheld.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Piotr Murasik and Ann Barker-Murasik