02/09/09 - Grove Pub application withdrawn - Conservatives back resident's campaign

See below a letter to local residents in Easterside

As your Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, I am writing to you to make you aware that the application from Admiral Taverns to reopen the Grove pub on Broadwell Road has been withdrawn.   This is excellent news!

You may have read in the Gazette that the notorious pub was set to reopen following an application to Middlesbrough council.  You may have also signed the petition put together by local residents.  The fact the Admiral Taverns have withdrawn their bid to re-open the pub is down to hard work from petitioners and the whole neighbourhood coming together to fight the application.

The pub was closed in 2006 after the council revoked their licence following years of violence, anti social behaviour, drug dealing and drunken public nuisance.   Many contacted me saying they feared the pub re-opening would once again bring crime and turn surrounding streets into no go areas.

The residents' campaign was fully backed by me as the Conservative Candidate for the Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland constituency at the next election.

I am very supportive of local pubs, many of which are struggling as a result of tax on beer and the recession.  However, the reputation of the pub meant a return to the bad old days was likely if it re-opened.  Moreover, the inadequate and dysfunctional legislation around licensing introduced by the Labour Government means it is now more difficult than ever to prevent our town centres turning into no-go zones at night through pubs/bars encouraging binge drinking, and stopping pubs opening late into the night in the middle of residential areas.  This isn’t right and must be changed!

I will keep a close eye on the situation and contact you again should things change.  In the meantime if there is anything else that I can do to help then please do not hesitate to get in touch.  You can contact me by email at paulbristow@hotmail.com, call me on 01287 631 928 or write to me at 7a Church Street, Guisborough, TS14 6HG.  You can also see details of all of my local campaigns at my website, which can be found at http://www.paulbristow.org.uk/.

Hopefully, the brilliant campaign by local residents, and the decision to withdraw the application will be the end of the matter - but if plans re-emerge to re-open the notorious pub, your local Conservatives will again support residents in their campaign.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Bristow

Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland