Mid Sussex District Council is to support the work of Sir Nicholas Soames MP to highlight to the Government the risk of villages losing valued local facilities.

 

Villagers in Cuckfield have been working to try to stop the Ship Inn being turned into a Co-op store and asked the District Council to impose an Article 4 Direction, which would remove the permitted development rights of the owners of the Ship Inn. However after careful consideration and having taken specialist advice, the Council decided it could not do this as it would risk exposing the Council and local taxpayers to substantial compensation claims.

Instead the Council will be supporting the work of Sir Nicholas Soames MP to highlight to Government the underlying problem, which is that pub owners can often change how their properties are used without having to get planning permission. Meetings are planned with the Minister Kris Hopkins and the Chief Executive of the Co-op at which concerns about the current planning situation will be raised.

 

Councillor Norman Webster, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economic Development said:

“We sympathise with the Save the Ship campaign, but an Article 4 Direction is not an effective tool for councils like Mid Sussex to use in these circumstances.

“Throughout the country, supermarkets are taking over village pubs and converting them into stores. This can often be done without the need for planning permission, so I am keen to support the work of Sir Nicholas to highlight the dangers of this situation to the Government and help communities protect valued local facilities”