End of the road for pub

THE fate of a country pub with a unique name was being decided by Wealden planners yesterday (Thursday).

Wealden District Council was considering a planning application to convert The Bicycle Arms at Argos Hill, Rotherfield, into two flats, one of which already exists on the first floor.

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Officers were advising that, although there was a great deal of sympathy for local residents over the loss of the pub, it was not considered that the council was justified in refusing the application, given the lack of policy support for the retention of such facilities.

Among the many objectors to closure was the Mayfield and Five Ashes Society which said The Bicycle was the only pub in the country with that name.

It had been until comparatively recently a successful concern, the society added.

Rotherfield Parish Council objected, pointing out that three pubs had already been recently lost in the parish.

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The South England Tourist Board said geographical remoteness in itself was not an argument for closure.

There were also 23 individual letters of objection including some on the grounds that it would be a loss of an important community facility that would impact on the local economy.

Officers said the applicants had submitted a detailed letter setting out the efforts they had made to attract more custom over the seven years they had run the pub.

In summary, the letter said that market trends had encouraged a deterioration in sales.

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The pub had advertised its facilities locally with virtually no result. Events had been tried with little success.

There was interest in buying the pub at a knock-down price but, at its current market value, it was not worth selling.

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