BARNSLEY Campaign for Real Ale has backed a petition to save The Countryman Pub from closure.
The pub, owned by Punch Taverns, could be knocked down and replaced with 12 houses – ten three-bedroomed and two two-bedroomed – if a planning application is approved by the council.
A 200-signature petition objecting to the application was submitted this week from local residents.
Barnsley CAMRA pubs and clubs officer, Phil Gregg, said: “We are protesting the closure – I have written a letter to the council expressing CAMRA’s views. We are always against any pub closure but in The Countryman’s case we feel particularly strongly about it.
“Everybody knows that pubs are struggling but The Countryman is doing quite well. It is in walking distance for a lot of people and being the only family pub in the area; by closing it we are surely encouraging people to drive further afield. This could lead to drink-driving."
Mr Gregg believes that struggling pub companies seem to be picking on bigger 1960s estate pubs that have large car parks adjacent to them.
