Britain’s wonkiest pub The Crooked House owners agree to council order to rebuild boozer – but under single condition
OWNERS of Britain's wonkiest pub The Crooked House have agreed to a council order to rebuild the boozer.
The historic pub, nestled in Himley near Dudley, was tragically engulfed in flames in a suspected arson attack.
South Staffordshire Council issued an enforcement notice in February forcing owners ATE Farms to resurrect the beloved establishment to its former glory.
They were told to rebuild the building to the state it was before the fire last August.
Owners appealed the council's decision after it claimed the notice must be complied with within three years.
However, the new owners have now agreed to rebuild - but under one condition.
READ MORE ON THE CROOKED HOUSE
Documents revealed their intention to reconstruct the pub on an alternative land - with other developments to "increase footfall".
The report read: "Requiring a re-build in the same location, whilst reflective of popular opinion, will not change the fact that the building in that location is not viable as a public house."
"For this reason, the appellant has put forward a sustainable, and what it sees as a genuine and practical solution to the issue, to the council that it rebuild the building on other land that it owns, to operate as a public house, with other development to increase footfall and give the pub and the building a real chance of success as a community asset."
HORROR BLAZE
SUSPICION grew as the Crooked House pub in Himley, Staffs, was burnt down just days after it was sold.
The rest of the building was demolished without permission less than 48 hours later, prompting national outcry and calls for better protection for heritage pubs.
Three men, aged 33, 51, and 66, have since been arrested and bailed over the incident.
A woman, 34, and two men, aged 44 and 23, were also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent or being reckless as to whether life was endangered - they were also released on bail.
Lawyers began looking into potential breaches of the 1990 Town and Country Planning Act after the demolition.
And it has been claimed the digger that flattened the charred ruins was hired before the blaze.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Council, councillor Roger Lees, said: “A huge amount of time and resources have been put into investigating the unauthorised demolition of the Crooked House.
"We have had great support from the local community, our MPs and the Mayor of the West Midlands, and from the campaign group whose aim is to see the Crooked House back to its former glory which is the key objective of the Enforcement Notice."
It also outlined a vision to relocate the reconstructed Crooked House pub - including the parking facilities and landscaping - further north off the Crooked House Lane.
The move comes in a bid to increase accessibility for the customers flocking to the iconic boozer, owners said.
They added: "The proposal locates a newly constructed Crooked House pub along with appropriate parking and landscaping further north off Crooked House Lane and as near to the highway junction with the Himley Road as would allow."
The decision comes after the building was deemed "structurally unsafe".
They revealed three key elements were removed from the building causing further issues.
They added: "Removal of the upper sections of the building took with it the steel tie ins which rendered the remaining structure, in the contractors opinion, completely unsafe and at a high (and unacceptable risk) of collapse.
"The council officers had left the land and a quick decision had to be made.
"The situation on the land was such that, due to the amount of media attention and public attendance, a decision had to be taken quickly as to the immediate safety of the building.
"A decision was made with reference to the director of the appellant that in order to abate the risk, the mainstay of the remaining structure needed to be taken down.
"It was considered that there was a high risk of the building collapsing and causing serious injury or a fatality on the land given the entry on to the land by large numbers of people some of whom were conducting vigils and others removing bricks and other items as memorabilia/ for sale."
They are also set to unveil plans to establish an education centre in the area including retirement lodges within the existing woodland.
It adds: "In this regard, the appellant is in the process of preparing a detailed pre-application to be put to the council (and neighbouring authorities)."
After the huge blaze destroyed the historic boozer, a new pub claimed the title for its crooked doors and uneven bar.
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The Tilted Barrel in the West Midlands stands on a slant and boasts wonky premises due to mining subsidence.
The 200-year-old building was left with a quirky quality after it dropped through from being built on a mine.
