A fresh attempt to knock down a pub in a village to the north of Preston has been withdrawn.

Barton NWL Properties had applied to demolish the Boars Head.

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The Barton pub, in Garstang Road, was given the Asset of Community Value status in January 2017.

But Barton NWL Properites say the site needs demolishing to make way for new housing.

They have refused to sell the pub to campaigners, who want to re-open the building as a community pub.

Preston City Council’s planning committee were due to decide on Thursday (7 February) whether to approve demolition.

But planning officers have recommended the scheme be refused.

This has led to the applicants withdrawing the scheme.

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Planning officers write: “The proposed demolition of the non-designated heritage asset would result in the total loss of the asset without adequate justification and without any future plans for the redevelopment of the site.

“The proposal would leave a cleared site in the centre of the village which would have a significant detrimental impact on the setting of the adjacent Grade II listed church.”

They state usually the application wouldn’t go to planning committee but ‘due to public interest in the site’ it has gone to councillors for a decision.

Barton NWL Properties has already threatened any refusal will see them appeal to the Planning Inspector.

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Wyre and Preston North MP Ben Wallace has thrown his support behind campaigners, along with Barton Parish Council and 47 letters of objection which say the pub should not be demolished.

A spokesperson for Barton Parish Council said: “We have been informed that the application for the demolition of the Boars Head former public house has been withdrawn by the applicant and so will no longer be on Planning committee for consideration this Thursday.

“The parish council continue to be committed to trying to work with the current owners of the site to try to support possible development on the site that will benefit the community.”

What do you think about the future of the Boars Head? Let us know your views in the comments below