Council bids to protect The Black Horse in Wiltshire

Cherhill and Yatesbury Parish Council has applied to list The Black Horse pub, on the A4 Main Road through Cherhill, as an asset of community value.

Parish clerk Peter Johnson told this paper the nomination would safeguard the future of a pub that has been “at the heart of the community for a long time.”

This comes after long-serving landlord Andy Fletcher announced he would be leaving the venue after more than three years in charge.

New occupants are set to take over the pub in April, and at this point the parish council has not raised any immediate fears about the venue closing for a significant period of time.

If approved, the nomination would safeguard the long-term future of the pub by prohibiting the owners, Punch Taverns, from selling the property without notifying Wiltshire Council.

Community interest groups would then have a six-month period in which to bid for the property, provided they expressed their interest within six weeks.

The Black Horse Inn at Cherhill (Image: Google Maps)

Mr Johnson said: “The pub is at the heart of the community and has been for a very long time, it’s the only pub in the village and would be sorely missed if it were to close down or change its role.

“We’re very keen for it to continue as it is, it’s the life and soul of the village.

“There’s a new tenant taking up the reins which is good to hear and hopefully they’ll make a success of it because Andy did a marvellous job.”

The application, which was put together by Cllr Nick White, explains that the pub has been serving the community for over 250 years and is now the only remaining public house in the village.

In that time, it has become a “focal point” for village activities.

The nomination read: “Cherhill has only this pub, the village hall and the church as meeting places; it is the only retail source of food and drink in the evenings.

“It is reasonable to assume that it will continue to fulfil this primary role in the future.

“By its presence, and the facilities it offers, it will further the social well-being and the social interests of the village by offering a venue for recreation, social activities, meetings, and charitable events.”

A deadline of May 7 this year has been set by Wiltshire Council to provide a decision on the nomination.