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‘Heartbreaking end of an era’ as Turf Tavern pub is demolished

8:10am Friday 3rd February 2012 in Pints of View

Bulldozers move in on the Turf Tavern in Dringhouses Bulldozers move in on the Turf Tavern in Dringhouses

A CAMPAIGNER who fought to save his local pub says the community has been left with ‘a pile of broken dreams’ after bulldozers moved in.

Paul Gledhill and other regulars battled to save the Turf Tavern in Dringhouses from being turned over to housing. However, yesterday saw work begin to level the building.

Mr Gledhill, a nearby resident, said the sight was “heartbreaking.”

“It’s the end of an era. The community has been scattered to the four winds. Some go to the Quaker Wood, some to The Beagle. The community has been devastated and it will never never be the same. To some it will be a pile of money but to us it’s a pile of broken dreams.”

Howard Bryan, who owns the Thanet Road site, and Union Pension Trustees Ltd, have submitted a planning application to build two and three-storey homes on the land which they say will improve the appearance of the area.

The pub became the centre of a row after council officers lifted a restrictive covenant, which stated the land could not be used for anything other than a pub. Local councillors were not consulted. The authority has since ruled that councillors’ views should be sought before a decision is made should a similar situation arise.

Meanwhile, the owners of the Red Lion Hotel near Poppleton, which closed unexpectedly last month, have said the premises will re-open.

A notice on the door of the hotel next to the A59 says the business was forced to close due to unforeseen circumstances. The closure saw five full-time members of staff lose their jobs.

A spokeswoman for owners Enterprise Inns said it was inviting applications from potential new owners and hoped to have it again in the near future.

Comments(27)

thefutureis says...
8:29am Fri 3 Feb 12

Lies firmly at the door of the Labour Cabinet and Cllr Gunnell in particular

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roskoboskovic says...
8:34am Fri 3 Feb 12

this whole process stinks and there should be an enquiry into why things were allowed to happen so quickly.considering how other projects crawl along at a snails pace it is astounding just how quickly this has happened.

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TheTruthHurts says...
9:06am Fri 3 Feb 12

I urge those who have been investigating this to carry on! if there has been something dodgy going on it needs to be exposed.

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thefutureis says...
9:12am Fri 3 Feb 12

Labour Cabinet takes decision in secret without public consultation or scrutiny. I dont believe it

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Theendoftheworld says...
9:12am Fri 3 Feb 12

Cllr Gunnell will not respond to requests for comments. The owner has acted quickly to circumvent any possible successful appeals against planning permission. Like you say rosko, it all stinks. A rich retired judge was always going to have the edge over us poor serfs. Like the old adage says, it's not what you know.............

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oldgoat says...
9:34am Fri 3 Feb 12

So why did it close in the first place?

Many times I've driven past when it was a pub, and the doors were shut and the lights off. Never seemed busy, certainly not overflowing on race days.

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Theendoftheworld says...
9:35am Fri 3 Feb 12

One other point. Were a similar situation to arise with the Acorn Rugby Club, you can rest assured that Julie Gunnell would intervene in a positive way - her sons play for the club!!

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Theendoftheworld says...
9:42am Fri 3 Feb 12

Oldgoat, when Howard Bryan bought the place it was thriving. There was a concerted effort to run the business down to give weight to the argument that it was not sustainable. He bought the place to close it and never invested one penny in it. You're right to say that, at times, the place did look quiet but it still had 2 ladies netball teams, darts, pool and domino teams and supported 2 young football teams. There were also regular live music nights and parties were often held there.

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mickrick says...
10:13am Fri 3 Feb 12

I hope that the truth emerges from this obviously dodgy carry on.
Im sure your on with it but the freedom of information act should be used to throw some light on ........What exactly went on here and by who.
If what has gone on proves to be illegal ? Then prosecutions should follow.

Chris Huune thought he was above the law....fraid not!!!!!

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Head of Bomber Command says...
10:23am Fri 3 Feb 12

I didn't have a problem with the pub when ever I went in. Some real tussle's against the Turf at football in the past (Dave Moyes, Pete Carr and co). But they were a great bunch back then, well after the game anyway.

It's a sad day for those who were attached to the pub. I am not one for all the enquiry scenario's, but in this case I think the lead up to the demolition should be looked into, and I encourage those people to NOT LET GO in their quest for truth.

There is something amiss with it all, isn't there?

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Tom6187 says...
12:34pm Fri 3 Feb 12

It's not like it was a nice pub, it was a dirty horrible dive, good riddance.

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Theendoftheworld says...
1:07pm Fri 3 Feb 12

Tom, the argument isn't about what sort of pub it was, and of course you are entitled to your opinion. The crux of the matter is the debatable, underhand way that the covenant was lifted.
Incidently, that'dirty, horrible dive' raised thousands of pounds towards charities such as St. Leonards Hospice, Comic Relief and Help for Heroes.
If, by some remote chance you have friends who use other such locals, be careful because yours could be next!

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marvell says...
1:44pm Fri 3 Feb 12

Let's see if you all have long memories when we next get around to local elections or if you blindly elect Labour in like you did last time. No good complaining if you don't punish them when it matters...

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Theendoftheworld says...
1:57pm Fri 3 Feb 12

I'm afraid you're right marvell. I started voting for Labour as soon as I was eighteen. As I'm retired now that's a lot of votes! The secresy and hypocrisy of this local party has completely turned me against them. If I was twenty years younger I'd stand myself. As it is I'll be looking for a decent independent to support.

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TheTruthHurts says...
3:36pm Fri 3 Feb 12

Any chance of picking this one up York Press.
'
This should be right up your street, a bit of investigative journalism.

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Theendoftheworld says...
4:14pm Fri 3 Feb 12

Fraid your going to be disappointed Truth, far from investigating it, they've heavily edited my last two letters that were published and refused to publish three others 'for legal reasons'.

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The OX says...
4:18pm Fri 3 Feb 12

Theendoftheworld wrote:
One other point. Were a similar situation to arise with the Acorn Rugby Club, you can rest assured that Julie Gunnell would intervene in a positive way - her sons play for the club!!
I can tell you that the Acorn Rugby Club are doing well, we always welcome new members to the club, as from Sunday, there is a members week with most drinks £1.50 a pint, along with live entertainment, You can get membership for just £5 per year, so why not pop along, P.S. We hold our own onward and up ward, rugby is the name of the Game

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magic cat says...
4:25pm Fri 3 Feb 12

Julie Gunnell is not the only Labour cllr not to respond to letters etc. I agree there is a lack of transparency not only on this issue. Meetings take place without residents being told and if they do find out then they are told they cannot ask questions as happened at Holgate Ward when Alexander stifled debate in the Have Your Say session. Even when councillors are supposed to attend Residents Committee meetings as part of their duties they are not turning up - just sending apologies each time.

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Tom6187 says...
5:58pm Fri 3 Feb 12

Theendoftheworld wrote:
Tom, the argument isn't about what sort of pub it was, and of course you are entitled to your opinion. The crux of the matter is the debatable, underhand way that the covenant was lifted.
Incidently, that'dirty, horrible dive' raised thousands of pounds towards charities such as St. Leonards Hospice, Comic Relief and Help for Heroes.
If, by some remote chance you have friends who use other such locals, be careful because yours could be next!
I don't tend to bother, most pubs are full of utter numptys especially pubs like the turf tavern and the Acomb hotel, the alcoholics will just move to a different boozer to spend their benefits.

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Theendoftheworld says...
6:47pm Fri 3 Feb 12

You're right OX the Acorn is doing well, I'm already a member there and actually played for them in the distant past. I only mentioned them because of the Julie Gunnell connection.

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Theendoftheworld says...
6:48pm Fri 3 Feb 12

You sound a right bundle o' laughs Tom. Can I suggest the Darby and Joan club.

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m dee says...
7:10pm Fri 3 Feb 12

marvell wrote:
Let's see if you all have long memories when we next get around to local elections or if you blindly elect Labour in like you did last time. No good complaining if you don't punish them when it matters...
Thing is what do we do the last lot through much needed funds at unpopular schemes like there's no tomorrow,the local Tory's seem a bad option.

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the butler says...
7:31pm Fri 3 Feb 12

Has any thought been given to incorporate a modern pub in this complex, It does not have to be a huge monstrosity like the old one?.

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The OX says...
7:31pm Fri 3 Feb 12

Theendoftheworld wrote:
You're right OX the Acorn is doing well, I'm already a member there and actually played for them in the distant past. I only mentioned them because of the Julie Gunnell connection.
Ok mate I see,got us abit of a add lol

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was york now rotherham says...
10:57pm Fri 3 Feb 12

if you want to teach them a lesson or two why not just wait untill the new builds have been compleated and then hire a bulldozer or an excavator and rip them down like they did with the turf.

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James Street Bare Knuckle Gypsy Fighter says...
9:10am Sat 4 Feb 12

Tom6187 wrote:
Theendoftheworld wrote:
Tom, the argument isn't about what sort of pub it was, and of course you are entitled to your opinion. The crux of the matter is the debatable, underhand way that the covenant was lifted.
Incidently, that'dirty, horrible dive' raised thousands of pounds towards charities such as St. Leonards Hospice, Comic Relief and Help for Heroes.
If, by some remote chance you have friends who use other such locals, be careful because yours could be next!
I don't tend to bother, most pubs are full of utter numptys especially pubs like the turf tavern and the Acomb hotel, the alcoholics will just move to a different boozer to spend their benefits.
Tom6187

What stereotypical rubbish. People in benefits hardly go in pubs because they can't afford to. They stay at home drinking cans!!

As for the Acomb Hotel? Probably the best suburban pub in the city and the huge amount of customers who regulary come to place are testiment to that. Five free pool tables, free Internet juke board, sky tv on five TVs, reasonably priced well kept beer and a decent set of people.

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nearlyman says...
3:43pm Sun 5 Feb 12

...Freedom of Information Act ?.......

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