Neighbours have spoken out about plans to turn an ‘eyesore’ site which was previously a pub into new homes. The former Blue Bell pub on Mansfield Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, will be turned into four two-storey houses and four additional four-bedroom properties will be built on land behind the property.
The plans were approved by Ashfield District Council on May 17, after a previous plan to demolish the pub and use the land for townhouses and an apartment block was rejected. Residents have recalled what the pub was like in previous years.
Tiffany Allen, manager of Eastfield Store, and Parm Rengi, the owner of Eastfield Store, also recalled that the pub saw many different owners. Mrs Rengi added that it was once popular but now it’s an eyesore, she said: “I think it's good that something else is being done with it. It’s a bit of an eyesore.”
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In March this year fake planning signs were put outside the pub which said it would be turned into an 'immigrant processing hostel'. Ashfield District Council confirmed the 'change of use' signage that appeared in front of the pub in Mansfield was false.
The council said no such planning application exists and said the matter had been reported to Nottinghamshire Police.
Back when the business was open and running as a pub, 29-year-old Jake Sleigh visited once. He said: “It had a decent atmosphere, I went on a weekday - that was years ago.
"All the pubs are turning into flats, A lot of them are going down hill.” Jake continued to add that another pub near where he lives in Shirebrook faced closure and has now become flats. He added: “It’s not great, especially if it affects people’s businesses.”
A council report described the pub, which is currently boarded up, as the "oldest surviving" building in its part of Sutton-in-Ashfield. In April 2022 Ashfield District Council refused the proposal to convert the pub into five three-bedroom townhouses and an apartment block.
They criticised that the potential complete demolition of the pub and concluding the new homes would cause "detrimental harm".
56-year-old Andrea Carter said: “I think it’s about time they do something with it. It just wasn’t a popular pub, I think it’s all too common right now.
"Most businesses that are suffering end up being house or apartment blocks, it’s just what is happening. I understand that things have to change and develop.”
More recently plans for a pub in Nottinghamshire were submitted to convert it into flats. The owner of The Larks Nest on Larkfield Road, in Nuthall, is seeking to convert the pub building into five ‘self contained’ flats. Real ale campaigners described the plans as a ‘loss to the local community’.
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