Late reprieve for pub facing bulldozer

A Tipton pub which had been facing the bulldozer has been given a reprieve, after the tenant signed up for another five years in charge.

A planning application had been submitted to Sandwell Council to demolish The Shrubbery, in Horseley Road, turning the traditional pub into new apartments. But a representative of the owners County Estates said today that the application would be abandoned until 2014 at least. after the current tenant signed a new five-year agreement.

Simon Baylis, of County Estates, said: "The landlady has just signed another five year tenancy agreement so nothing will be done before then, the pub is safe. It's a fantastic pub, the owners were considering their options, but now that the new lease has been signed nothing will be done with it."

The application was for 11 apartments with 14 car parking spaces and a small garden. It is still pending consideration by Sandwell Council planning department. The Shrubbery dates back to the 1930s and is a popular venue with its own dominoes and darts team.

When the application was submitted ward councillor Derek Rowley attacked the move as "greedy".

He added: "We need to save these traditional pubs, too many of them are closing down."

The Shrubbery is the latest in a series of pubs to come before council planners. Drinkers at The Sow and Pigs in Hill Top managed to fight off developers who wanted to turn the 250-year-old building into apartments.

The Fountain Inn in Wednesbury and the Junction in Witton Lane, Hill Top are also among boozers to shut their doors and an application has been submitted to build new homes on the site of the former Barley Mow pub in City Road, Tividale.