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.