Neighbours go to war over abandoned pub left a boarded up eyesore by millionaire ex-BBC boss

Neighbours are furious over an abandoned pub which has been left boarded up by a millionaire ex-BBC boss.

Greg Dyke has been criticised by locals for allowing a popular community pub to become a "blot on the landscape."

Neighbours have launched a petition that has been signed by 170 people to turn the now boarded-up Pickwick Inn, currently owned by Dyke, into a community asset.

If the decision is granted, the community would have six weeks to make an offer and buy it from former BBC director general and former chairman of the FA.

The rural boozer at St Ann's Chapel, in Devon, which shut in January and was closed up in July, is still on the market.

The Pickwick Inn at St Ann's Chapel in Devon, has been closed since January (SWNS)

Locals have raised concerns that the pub would be bought and turned into a housing development, which is what happened to another local bar, the Royal Oak, in 2013.

Now, Bigbury Parish Council has launched a petition to keep the pub as a hostelry, and has asked the South Hams District Council to make the building an asset of community value.

The petition has had support from approaching 200 people so far, and refers to the closed pub as "a blot on the landscape rather than the important community effort that it once was."

It adds: "Whilst there has been interest from several parties in rescuing the pub, the owners of the property have been less than forthcoming in their replies to any offers."

Locals have raised concerns the pub could be bought and turned into a housing development (SWNS)

Councillor Stuart Watts said: "The pub is falling into disrepair, it's a very sad state of affairs.
"It's in a very critical area, the location of the pub is amazing and both the locals and tourists really loved it as a place to get a drink and pub food.

"I've had 170 emails in support of keeping the pub, we don't need more housing unless it's affordable housing.

"The pub is important for people to get together, meet people and have a chat. It's not just about getting a drink.

The Pickwick Inn has been closed since January and been boarded up since July (SWNS)

"The support for the petition suggests that there would certainly be a customer base.

"We need to see how the community asset decision goes and then take it from there, we're taking it step by step."

Mr Dyke, chairman of Vine Hotels which has a portfolio of 13 properties including Dartmouth Hotel, Golf and Spa, told the BBC he bought the Pickwick four years ago as an investment.

The former tenant no-longer has an interest in the property (SWNS)

He said the Pickwick closed in January after the tenants moved out unexpectedly.

The pub had been offered for sale to the parish council earlier this year, without a response, Mr Dyke said.

He added there had been offers to rent or buy the pub but none had been "anywhere realistic".

"I know what pubs mean for a community," he added.

The community would have six weeks to make an offer and buy the pub from the former BBC director general and former chairman of the FA (SWNS)

"We do not want it not to be a pub, but the market is terrible.

"We want to keep it as a pub, but no-one was willing to pay the rent we were charging or anywhere near it."