Flower boxes row may see Barnham pub in court battle

Planters could see a Barnham pub operator taken to court.

Officers at Arun District Council say the five structures at the Barnham Bridge Inn need planning permission.

The pub's area manager, Lezley Taylor, has until Thursday, March 5,to remove them, apply for planning permission for them or face legal action.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She said she was stunned by the council's approach. "The planters are removable. They are railway sleepers bolted together and filled with earth. They are heavy but they can be moved," she explained

Licensee Chris Flynn stated: "A lot of customers say how nice the planters look. They help to make the area look like a village."

The planters '“ measuring about 8ft long and 18in wide '“ were put in by Chris last spring.

They were intended to stop drivers parking on the pub's forecourt for up to a day at a time and causing dangers to other road users and pedestrians as well as brightening up the busy area opposite the railway station.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

They have worked and highlight the improvements which Chris has made to the Barnham Road premises in the past two years.

Last year saw them improve the surroundings with pansies, heathers, ferns and daffodils. The planters also complement the picnic tables which were put on the forecourt about three years ago.

But a single complaint to the district council sparked its investigation of the planters.

This resulted in the letter to the pub's leaseholder, Pubs and Bars plc, stating the planters were an illegal development. Lezley Taylor said: "It is hard enough as it is running a pub nowadays without having to deal with matters like this as well.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"If we apply for planning permission for the planters, we have to supply formal drawings and it is going to cost us hundreds, if not more than a thousand pounds, to do that.

"I can't see the company being willing to spend that sort of money on a matter like this.

An Arun spokesman said the council's compliance team acted on a complaint about the planters and decided their size and permanence meant they constituted development and required planning permission.

"A letter was written to the occupiers of the Barnham Bridge Inn informing them of this and requesting an application for planning permission be submitted by March 5.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"A representative for the owner of the Barnham Bridge Inn has since contacted the council to state that they do not wish to submit an application for planning permission and that the planters would be removed.

What do you think? Click here to send a letter or leave a comment below.

Click here to go back to Chichester news

Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news

Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news

To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click on the link below to add yourself to our readers' map.

MAP