By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
A campaign has been launched to save a Cheltenham pub from being converted into homes.
Plans to turn the Bell Inn in Batth Road into four flats and build a house behind it were submitted to Cheltenham Borough Council earlier this month.
Peter Glanville, who owns the building, wants permission to go ahead with the works which include a two bed house with a garden, three one bed flats and a studio flat.
The ground floor would be kept as commercial space. But pub landlord Chris Evans, 78, is furious after finding out he could be turfed out of the pub after 30 years.
The first he heard of the planning application was via the press.
Mr Evans says the owner of the building mentioned something years ago about turning the pub into homes, however he says he was also assured he would not need to worry as it would not be for a very long time.
“I have not been thinking about retiring yet. If Donald Trump can run a country, I can run a pub,” he previously told Gloucestershire Live.
“We have three part-time staff and were looking to increase our opening times and hopefully create two more jobs next year.
“My wife and I enjoy working. If I was given a ten year lease, I would happily keep going for the next ten years.”
And now Conservative councillors and supporters are calling on the council to protect the pub.
They want it to be registered as an asset of community value. If this were to happen, when and when the site is sold, the community will be given a fair chance to make a bid to buy it on the open market.
Rich Newman, one of those behind the campaign, said: “Myself and others are campaigning to oppose this, and asking the council to declare the Bell as an asset of community value, safeguarding it from conversion and allowing the community to raise the funds to buy it and keep it operating as is.
“This campaigning has taken the form of a petition, which is ongoing. And we have submitted an asset of community value request to CBC.
“We have also got the support and backing of a number of local politicians.”
Former Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk is among those calling for the pub to be saved.
“Hospitality is facing a tough time,” he said.
“This is a valued local pub which is keen to continue. The Borough council should be supporting that.”
Cheltenham Borough Council is expected to make a decision on the planning application for the pub by January 29.