Duke of York pub to be marched down

A pub owner has been given the green light to down the establishment and replace it with homes.

The outline permission to demolish the Duke Of York in Gosberton Risegate came back before South Holland District Council’s Planning Committee after its owners were asked to provide more evidence it was not viable to keep running.

Lucy Stevens, the daughter of the applicant, told the meeting: “I’m providing everything that’s been asked including evidence of the business’ decline over the last five years.”

Councillors were satisfied enough to pass the demolition plans. The applicant states in documents submitted with the application the plans are to build four homes on the site of the former pub, though a separate application would need to be passed on the design of the homes.

Planning chairman Coun James Avery said: “It’s sad when pubs close. I think Covid has had a big effect on this but when a public house gets to a state of disrepair which requires an awful lot of cash to make it sustainable again, it’s not worth it.”

Coun Bryan Alcock added: “It’s always sad to see pubs closing but a lot of the population don’t support them now. It’s a sad fact that some owners are looking for a way out and unfortunately we’ll only see more of them.”