CAMPAIGNERS battling to protect a pub believed to be more than 450 years old remain determined in their bid to protect the site, writes Local Democracy Reporter Aran Dhillon.

Residents were left outraged after a proposal to demolish the Raven Inn on Warrington Road in Glazebury was put forward by Osborne and Co.

But it was withdrawn in March last year following huge opposition.

As reported in August, Read Property Associates listed the site, which closed as a pub in 2018, on the market.

It said its client was "willing to dispose of the freehold opportunity" for a sale price in excess of £400,000, exclusive of VAT.

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The Raven Inn is currently being listed as "under offer" on Read’s website.

But the Help the Raven Inn steering group says it is "quite relaxed" about the situation.

A spokesman added: “If a new owner were to seek change of use or demolition, our stance has been very clear, firm and unwavering.

“We will vehemently oppose the planning application that would be necessary for any of these purposes.

“Even if a new owner were to propose running the Raven Inn as a pub, we would keep our group going.

“One thing the last year has taught us is not to take anything at face value.”

Residents set their sights on turning the site into a community pub after an application to list it as an asset of community value (ACV) was approved, which came after the application to demolish it was withdrawn.

The community right to bid initiative, introduced by the Localism Act 2011, allows communities to nominate buildings or land that are important to them for listing as an ACV.

If successful, communities are afforded an opportunity, and the time, to bid to buy the assets in the event they are put up for sale.