Has anyone actually seen any work going on since the pub was secured with shutters etc?

I am starting to worry that the application for planning permission, and flashy announcement that a substantial amount of money was about to be spent was a distraction to take some of the momentum out of the great campaign that was started to list the pub as a community asset.

Punch Taverns as a company are in serious trouble - see any of the stories here for background on why, and generally pessimistic prospects for the company: http://www.theguardian.com/business/punchtaverns

My fear is that when the company is broken up, the assets will be sold off and unless something has been done, the pub will turn into another bunch of flats.

Can anyone from the campaign group comment on what's happened since the initial flurry of activity? Thanks in advance.

Davidl - it has been listed as a community asset so its status is protected in that respect - see post 65 above (on page 4 I think).

Don't know about the rest though

I think the stated intention is to start work in March so we wont have to wait long to see if they are good for their word...

My understanding was that they were opening in March based on what I read in the newspapers. I suspect things may have been delayed if nobody has seen any work taking place yet.

But it will not be possible to sell the pub without giving the community an option to buy it.

I've looked at the reports for Punch Taverns and it all looks pretty dire. It seems that they have no money, are struggling to refinance and they are selling off lots of pubs... I don't think our lovely pub will open for a long time. Boo hoo.

Fortunately, it sounds like we'll soon have a much improved Railway Telegraph! Though obviously I would lament the on-going absence of the HO.

But does 'the community' have the several hundred thousand pounds to buy it?

There was someone there today with the security firm who looking after the place. No idea what they were doing but he did look like he had some rolls of plans - maybe just a site visit.

Well there are some barriers up around the site and car park area now so I can only assume they are going to start work fairly soon. We may yet get a local!