Hatt Common pub struck off community value asset list

East Woodhay Parish Council nomination turned down

A PUB owner has won the battle to get his property struck off a list of assets of community value (ACV), after it was nominated by East Woodhay Parish Council.

Nick Roffe, owner and landlord of the Furze Bush Inn, at Hatt Common, instigated a review of the nomination, after it was submitted by East Woodhay Parish Council to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council – the official holder of the ACV register.

Under the Localism Act 2011, councils must maintain a list of community assets, nominated by parish councils, or community groups, but not individuals.

If the asset is sold, the group will be given time to come up with a bid – known as the community right to bid.

Held at the borough council’s Basingstoke offices, the review followed Mr Roffe’s attendance at two parish council meetings, in September and November about the nomination of the Furze Bush as an ACV.

His main concern was that he would require the council’s permission should he decide to sell the property.

Parish councillor Barry Lambert said four properties nominated in February by the parish council had been accepted in July as ACVs, including Woolton Hill Post Office and Stores, Woolton Hill Church Hall, The Rampant Cat pub and The Furze Bush Inn.

Mr Lambert said: “We did initially have two other properties we were seeking to register, East Woodhay Village Hall and Woolton Hill Sports Club, but in the event it was not necessary as they already hold sufficient cover via the trust deeds they are separately held under.”

The borough council’s head of law and governance, Lisa Kirkman, recently wrote to Mr Roffe, confirming the Furze Bush Inn had been nominated as an ACV by East Woodhay Parish Council.

The nomination had proved “inadequate”, wrote Ms Kirkman, due to lack of information and therefore deemed not in compliance with regulations.

She wrote: “I recommend that the Furze Bush Inn be removed from the list of assets of community value (ACV) and that East Woodhay Parish Council be advised accordingly.

“I further confirmed that this does not preclude the parish council from making further applications.”

Mr Roffe said: “I was pleased that my review was successful and therefore not necessary to pursue my appeal through a tribunal.

“I hope that my local council will understand that it is not necessary to list a business until such time as an planning application is made for change of use.

“I am pleased that I no longer need the permission of the council to sell my business as a going concern.”

Mr Lambert said the parish council was not in a position to comment further, until it had received any official notification from the borough council.