Travellers' Call up for auction on 26 February 2015

[Dave]

That's very good news, Mark, and good luck to the community group who are trying to save the pub.

But it's surprising and disappointing that two of our councillors voted against it.  Maybe I'm being a bit innocent here, but I thought councillors were supposed to support their local communities? 

[admin]

Well done to the lady who got up and spoke in support of making the Traveller's Call an asset of community value at Marple Area Committee last night.

The vote was very tight with 3 to 2 in favour (1 excluded from the vote) and the lady made all the difference.

There was also a Robinsons spokesperson there who read out a letter opposing it who "wasn't sure" if they were selling it with a covenant on it to prevent it reopening as a rival pub.

The real hard work starts now for the community group who want to save it and I hope that they can see it through.

[My login is Henrietta]

It doesn't. They are going out of business because people aren't using them.

It's too easy to pick up a multipack of beer and a bottle of wine along with the shopping and stay in in front of your own fire and television - cheaper too.

Did pubs start on the downward slide when supermarkets were allowed to have alcohol licences? Can really be blamed on the smoking ban or the breathalyser?

I see the Grey Mare in Charlesworth is up for grabs again - 3rd time in about 18 months and the George and Dragon opposite hardly ever has more than one or two customers in it. I'm surprised Robinsons allow it to carry on.

[Harry]

Why does Marple need so many pubs?

It doesn't. They are going out of business because people aren't using them.

[Dave]

Because people are different, and so are pubs.  They come in all shapes and sizes - big pubs, small pubs, posh pubs, basic pubs, gastropubs, basic food pubs, Sky Sports pubs, summer pubs, winter pubs, pubs that welcome children, pubs that don't, quiet pubs, pubs with music, pubs without. 

The Great British Pub is a much loved institution, envied by people from other countries who love using them when they visit the UK.  It's bad news that so many are closing: once they have gone they've gone, and it's hard to see them re-opening.  That would be a sad loss.

[ringi]

Why does Marple need so many pubs?

[Dave]

From a purely practical point of view I drive past the Travellers every evening and when it was still open, if there was one person in there they were lucky. It begs the question if people want to save it where the customers are going to come from? If they don't have support from local residents they haven't a cat in hell's chance of succeeding.

Good point, but experience elsewhere suggests that community pub buyouts can work in revitalising seemingly moribund pubs, through a mixture of galvanising local support and putting in a more responsive management which transforms it into the kind of pub that local people actually want. 

It would be very sad to see it die - after all, it's not that long since there were two pubs opposite one another up there! 

[mikes]

For £100k it would make a nice private house. 

[My login is Henrietta]

Further to finding out about this I've been in touch with Jason to see how we might be able to help.

Jason says that the council will be making a decision about the application for the pub to become an "Asset of Community Value" by the end of the week.

What he needs by Thursday THIS week is for anyone who cares about loosing yet another pub in our area to drop him an an email of support stating:

What does the Travellers Call mean to you as a member of our local community and why should it be listed as an asset of community value?

If you care about this please send your comments to Jason via savethetravs@yahoo.com

From a purely practical point of view I drive past the Travellers every evening and when it was still open, if there was one person in there they were lucky. It begs the question if people want to save it where the customers are going to come from? If they don't have support from local residents they haven't a cat in hell's chance of succeeding.

[admin]

Further to finding out about this I've been in touch with Jason to see how we might be able to help.

Jason says that the council will be making a decision about the application for the pub to become an "Asset of Community Value" by the end of the week.

What he needs by Thursday THIS week is for anyone who cares about loosing yet another pub in our area to drop him an an email of support stating:

What does the Travellers Call mean to you as a member of our local community and why should it be listed as an asset of community value?

If you care about this please send your comments to Jason via savethetravs@yahoo.com

[u360213]

Before it closed its doors the regulars signed a petition to seek a 'stay of execution'. Here is an excerpt from the most recent communication:

"Stockport Council received our group nomination on 12/01/2015 to try and register the pub as an asset of community value under the Localism Act 2012. The Localism Act gives new community rights, one of which is the Right to Bid. The aim of the Right to Bid is to empower local communities wishing to protect valuable local buildings so that when they come up for sale, the community will have a chance to delay the sale in order to prepare a bid to buy it. By signing up to the campaign, you are in no way committing anything financially but if we can delay the sale by 6 months, we are hoping that we can get funding as a local group to raise the money needed to keep it as a treasured meeting place going into the future. There are different options that we can look at and help is available when we get to that stage."

If anyone would like to comment or join the petitioners you can contact Jason via savethetravs@yahoo.com

Cheers, Max

[My login is Henrietta]

I've heard that it has been withdrawn from auction. Can't speak for the veracity of the rumour but the Auctioneers' sign was still up this morning.

[admin]

I didn't realise that the Travellers' Call had closed but just found that it's up for auction:

To be sold by Public Auction on 26/02/2015 at the Manchester City Football Club - vacant former public house approximately 125 sq m(1369 sq ft) with development potential

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/commercial-property-for-sale/property-33506295.html

Amazing the rate that they're closing down around here.