Borough Council issues demands on owner of derelict Cotmanhay pub

Erewash Borough Council has issued a notice to the owner of a derelict pub, instructing them to deal with the property as it is having a detrimental effect on the amenities of the community.

The Bridge Inn in Cotmanhay, which sits by the edge of the Erewash Canal, has been out of use and attracting intruders and vandalism since 2018, and has, otherwise, become a hotspot for anti-social behaviour.

Despite plans being approved by the borough council in 2019 to demolish the pub and replace it with 23 flats, nothing happened and in 2020, further plans were submitted to create a three-storey block of apartments, but with more dwellings that had previously been proposed, totalling 29 one and two bedroom flats, some proposed to be held back for affordable housing.

At the time, the developer said that a pub on the site was no longer tenable due to "dwindling community support" but also claimed that anti-social behaviour was a factor even when the venue was still operating.

In 2019, before the pandemic, a campaigner, Chad Fowkes, set up an on line petition stating that, at the time, an established Ilkeston-based company that works in the licensing and catering business were set to be signing a long-term lease on The Bridge Inn, following the departure of the previous tenant, and claimed that the company had stated that they were prepared to invest in the business, refurbishing the beer garden for visitors, locals and boaters to use.  

Mr. Fowkes also said that there was a proposal to rent out moorings to attract boaters, and that the company, which was not named, had a manager ready and waiting to go into the pub.  He also claimed that the business was seen by the third party as 'viable', and that they had wanted to develop it beyond that of the previous tenant but that, at the point of signing the lease, the owner then decided to sell to a Nottingham-based property development company.

In setting up his 2019 petition, which has attracted just under 900 signatures, Mr. Fowkes said the property had been internally stripped and asked potential petition signatories to consider what would be better for the area.

Now, five years on, with no progress having been made to reopen the pub or begin development, the borough council has issued a notice which requires the owner to, either, carry out works that ensure the safety and security of the building, or, alternatively, demolish it. In issuing the notice, officials at the Town Hall are referencing Section 79 of the Building Act 1984 which requires action to be taken within 35 days of the notice being issued.

A copy of the notice has been placed at the site of the pub but can also be viewed on the borough council website.