Villagers step up efforts to save pub
A dedicated group of villagers determined to save their historic village pub are set to launch a share offer this weekend to raise the funds needed to buy the building.
Back in June the New Inn at Norton Lindsey was put up for sale on the open market by its owners Enterprise Inns, with developers soon taking an interest in the site.
In response to this a group of locals, who call themselves the Salvation Squad, began raising money to buy the pub themselves, with plans in place to turn it into an important community hub.
To date close to £180,000 has been pledged by villagers, and this week’s share offer means the Salvation Squad can begin converting those pledges into cash.
The group has already agreed a purchase price with Enterprise Inns for the pub, however it is a race against time to get the money together as a six month moratorium on any sale is due to expire in December.
This pause on any sale has only been possible because Norton Lindsey Parish Council registered the pub as an asset of community value (ACV) in 2013.
Essentially this status prevents any sale of the pub for six months to allow the local community the time to raise funds to submit their own bid for the building.
Rob Brook, chairman of the Salvation Squad said: “Our vision is to not only save our historic pub, but to turn it into a hub for the community with additional facilities, including café and shop. We only have a limited amount of time to raise the funds and whilst the community are committed to this action, we are just a small village with 139 households, so we desperately need help from people further afield who can help us be the salvation of The New Inn.”
The share offer will be launched this Saturday at Norton Lindsey Cricket Club, along with the Business Plan for the pub, outlining how people can invest and become a shareholder for the first community pub in Warwickshire.
The group will have just one month to raise the money needed and you can find out more information at www.salvationsquad.co.uk.
