Stan Collymore calls for Cannock pub to be saved from shop plan

The former footballer, who still lives in the town, wants to stop The Pied Piper pub, in Pye Green Road, being turned into a retail store.

The 44-year-old hopes to set up a co-operative to run the drinking hole, which closed in February, on behalf of the community.

Pub owners SEP Properties have applied to Cannock Chase Council for planning permission to convert the site into a store.

Collymore grew up just around the corner from the well-known pub and still passes by every week on his way to visit his mum at his childhood home.

Speaking exclusively to the Express & Star, Collymore said: "I spoken to a few business people in the Cannock area and they are keen to do something.

"However, I want to gauge opinion of the people who live nearby to see if they would use it and if they would get involved in it as a co-operative.

"There's no grand plan yet but my thoughts are that if we can come together with the community, with say 100, 150 or even 200 members, we could form a co-operative to run it."

Collymore said his vision is to keep the Pied Piper running as a fully-functioning pub but also a centre to house community events like coffee mornings for elderly people or a place for bands to perform and practice.

"I've seen similar things in the north west with derelict hotels and pubs that have been turned around and I'd like to be able for people to have a place to come to in Cannock," he added.

"I grew up about 200 yards away and I still pass by two or three times a week. It's really sad to see it empty with a 'To Let' board up outside.

"The Piper used to be a real community pub, it was a thriving place at the heart of the community.

"There is a big area to draw from and it's in the centre of about three big estates."

Collymore said he would be willing to work with developers who bought the site and said he would be willing to put his own money into the venture if he could attract others to join the bid to save the pub.

"It's not about profit," he said. "It's about keeping a place which the community would use, whether it's a place for a pint, or for coffee mornings or bingo or local bands.

"The idea would be to plough any profits back into the running of the pub."

Pub owner Marston's had previously agreed in principle to sell The Pied Piper to developers HB Villages, which wanted to replace the building with 16 flats for young adults with learning difficulties.

But the plans were turned down by Cannock Chase District Council's planning committee last year.

SEP Properties then took over in January and lodged a fresh planning application in April.

The firm, which has bases in Dudley and Lichfield, also bought The Terrace silver service restaurant in Watling Street, Brownhills.

Collymore is keen to gauge opinion on the plan and urged people in Cannock who would be interested in getting involved to write to the Express & Star letters page or add comments to story at www.expressandstar.com