MULHOLLAND SLAMS SUMMERCROSS PLANS PANEL DECISION

3.25.00pm GMT Thu 19th Feb 2009

Greg Mulholland MP for Leeds North West today slammed the decision of Leeds City Council planners after they approved a controversial care home scheme on the site of a former popular local pub.

The Summercross pub in Otley was closed in October 2007 after 140 years of business, despite been popular and profitable. The local community banded together and formed the Save our Summercross campaign group which aimed to re-open their local pub.

Despite massive local opposition (including a formal objection from Otley Town Council) and the fact that the pub is in a conservation area, Leeds City Council officers approved the planning application and the plans panel rubber stamped their decision today.

Greg, who is a member of the Save our Summercross group and spoke passionately against the application at the panel said:

"This is a sad day for Otley, over 140 years of history has been ignored so that developers can have their way.

"The Summercross was a successful pub and a focus for the community, closed against the wishes of the landlord by greedy developers who wanted to make money from the site.

"This decision is a slap in the face for local democracy as Otley Town Council's formal objection was completely disregarded."

"This decision has set a precedent. It has given carte blanche for greedy property developers to close any successful business, against the wishes of local people, just to make money for themselves and that Leeds City Council planners will allow them to do this. What us the point of having a plans panel, if councillors just rubber stamp recommendations by officers, when those recommendations are flawed?

"Clear planning reasons, backed up with evidence, were given why these plans should be resurrected. Other local authorities have shown that they do value and protect community pubs, but it is clear that Leeds City Council planning department do not".

"This case was about a simple moral principle that it is wrong to close profitable pubs, indeed any business just to exploit them for money making development, this principle has been completed ignored."