• Contact us
  • About us
  • Digital edition
  • Online archive
Sunday, June 8, 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

  • Sport
    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

  • Sport
    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Vacant pub cannot be turned into home

by CWH
10 May 2024
in Latest, News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Belah Bridge Inn. Picture: Google Streetview

Plans to convert a former pub into a house in a Cumbrian village have been turned down after it was ruled the proposals would lead to the loss of the only remaining potential local community facility.

Members of Eden local area planning committee for Westmorland and Furness Council refused a planning application to convert the vacant Belah Bridge Inn into a three-bedroom house.

The vacant pub was described as a fairly substantial building and is located in Brough Sowerby off the A685 which connects the M6 and the A66.

Applicant Stephen O’Donoghue told the committee the pub was falling into disrepair and said he did not have the money to turn it into a running pub.

But a report by planning officers said: “The proposed change of use from public house to a private dwelling would cause the loss of the only remaining potential local community facility / rural resource in Brough Sowerby.

“Its loss to housing would invoke the permanent removal of a prominent and long-established public house with the potential to help sustain the social quality of the area, and reducing sustainability within the locale as there are no alternative facilities within everyday walking distance.”

In planning documents, the applicants said it had been ‘heart breaking’ not to be able to pass the business onto a new team and see it stand empty.

A statement from the applicant added: “Unfortunately, no matter how hard you work during the summer in this area, it is increasingly challenging to pull you through the winter lull.

“The Belah Bridge Inn has stood empty for five years now and it would be a shame for it to continue, sadly if it remains empty it will be problematic for us to sustain the building.”

Development management officer Mark Lynch told the committee it was incumbent on the applicant to demonstrate that it was no longer viable.

A report by planning officers added: “The evidence submitted is deemed insufficient in demonstrating that the site has been successfully marketed beyond November 2019, and that the property could not be taken forward in the future as a commercial undertaking in the hands of suitable custodians.”

Chairman of Brough Sowerby Parish Meeting Mike Collins said the parish overwhelmingly objected to the proposals.

He told the committee they have had 88 signatures, along with anecdotes from villagers, TripAdvisor and Facebook entries, which showed the pub, when it was open, was an attractive place to eat and socialise.

Mr Collins added: “The pub was an asset until its closure in 2018 and can become so again in the hands of suitable custodians.”

Mr O’Donoghue told the committee the pub was on the market until the back end of last year and the applicants had been in touch with the estate agents ‘numerous times’ to provide the details. He added he was ‘very disappointed’ not to be able to provide these details.

The applicant said the pub was a ‘mess’ when they took over and added: “We put a lot of effort in cleaning up and tidying up.”

He said: “The 90 signatures that you’ve got from the local community, if only they came in once a week and spent £30, it’s nearly £3,000 a week that we’d be taking from the local community and the pub would not be shut.”

“It’s falling into disrepair, lets get it tidied up, let’s make it a nice building for the community rather than let it go to wrack and ruin, because I don’t have the sort of money to put into it to bring it back to a running pub.”

The plans received five letters of objections with one stating a village pub is at the very heart of any community.
 
In planning documents, the parish council added: “Following the submission of this application, the parish has met and has discussed further the opportunity to acquire the public house and run it as a community asset.

“This is a meaningful change in the position of the parish, and we are now progressing with a business plan to take this forward.”

Members of Eden local area planning committee refused the planning application on May 8 at Penrith Town Hall.

Related Posts

How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?
Expert advice

How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

8 June 2025
Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever
Latest

Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

7 June 2025
Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross
News

Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

6 June 2025
Farmers flock to North Sheep
Farm and Countryside

Farmers flock to North Sheep

6 June 2025
Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex
News

Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

6 June 2025
Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history
Latest

Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

6 June 2025
No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Most popular

Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

6 June 2025
Looking back through the archives

Looking back through the archives

6 June 2025
How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

8 June 2025
Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

6 June 2025
Farmers flock to North Sheep

Farmers flock to North Sheep

6 June 2025
Honorary assistant bishop Geoffrey Hewlett Thompson

Honorary assistant bishop Geoffrey Hewlett Thompson

6 June 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Logo

33 Middlegate
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7SY

Phone: 01768 862313
Email: news@cwherald.com

Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited. No: 12475190
VAT registration number: 343486488

Explore

  • News
  • Sport
  • Farming
  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Your view

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Photosales
  • Online archive
  • Buy your paper
  • Digital edition
  • North Lakes Living
  • Advertise
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2025

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
IPSO Logo
Review Your Cart
0
Discount
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal
Total Installment Payments
Bundle Discount
Checkout

 
0
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • more
    • North Lakes Living
    • Buy Photos
    • Buy your paper
    • About us
    • Contact us

© 2020 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald