4:12pm Monday 6th September 2010
By Gavin Aitchison
LAST orders look to have been called at a York pub after a developer unveiled plans to demolish it and build houses on the site.
The White Rose in Cornlands Road, Acomb, was closed and put up for sale by Admiral Taverns last October, and has become increasingly run-down since. On Saturday, one former landlady said she feared it could be set on fire.
Property developer Neil Farrar, of West Yorkshire, has now drawn up plans to knock the pub down and build six semi-detached bungalows with garages.
Mr Farrar’s planning agent Terry Brighthouse said: “The property is unoccupied and the condition of the building is rapidly deteriorating due to vandalism.”
Matt Grant, chairman of the York branch of pub and beer lobby group Camra, said: “It’s a shame to see such an historic pub go, but it has been neglected over recent years so it is not a huge surprise unfortunately.”
According to Hugh Murray’s Directory of York Pubs, the White Rose was licensed in 1957. It was a popular community pub for many years, but Admiral Taverns placed it on the market last year, saying it no longer fitted with their other properties.
Local councillor Steve Galloway said yesterday: “I am pleased that progress is now being made on dealing with a site which was beginning to look rundown and had become a target for vandals.
“If the bungalow scheme is agreed then it will provide much- needed specialist accommodation which is likely to appeal to mature people.”
He said the site benefited from shops opposite, and a frequent bus service, and was near Cornlands Road Park, Bachelor Hill and the new Energise sports and leisure centre.
City of York Council is considering Mr Farrar’s planning application, and hopes to make a decision by October 21.
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