CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save a pub from demolition have told how important it is to them and their families.

Regulars of the Carlton Tavern, in Acomb, are urging City of York Council’s planning committee to go against the recommendation of officers and turn down an application by Crown Care to knock the pub down and build a 79-bedroom care home in its place.

Residents gathered outside the premises, in Acomb Road, to stage a silent protest and hold up banners as councillors arrived for their site visit yesterday.

The committee will meet today to decide the pub’s fate, and Louise Ennis, who is representing residents at the meeting, hopes their views will be listened to.

She said: “Historic buildings matter to people.

“The Carlton is no exception - national heritage experts and people across the city say the Victorian Tudor-style building is of huge significance to the history of York and to the character of the area.”

Mum Laura Outhart, 42, said she uses the building regularly with her family and does not want to go elsewhere.

She added: “I live around here and we have very few pubs where we can eat and socialise as a community.

“There’s at least three generations of my family that come here on a weekend and we would have to find somewhere else.”

Sam Mason, 31, added: “Acomb has come such a long way and is a strong community.

“We don’t want to lose something like this that can bring the community together.”

York businessman Joe Gardham, also a director of Spark:York, in Piccadilly, put in a last minute bid to buy the pub from its owners, Marstons, to turn it into a microbrewery, restaurant, cafe and deli, but the success of the idea depends on what councillors decide this afternoon.