Plans to convert a former popular pub in Timbersbrook into a single dwelling have been labelled "scandalous" and a community asset claim to save the public house would be supported by Congleton Town Council.

In a letter to applicant Mr Dominic Bardsley, which was submitted alongside the plans to Cheshire East Council, Robinsons Brewery, the former owners of the pub, before its closure in July 2020, claimed that the level of trade at the Coach and Horses, on Under Rainow Road, had "steadily declined" during the period 2014 to 2020.

In a letter dated November 2020, the brewery stated throughout that period Frederic Robinson Limited had to "assist the licensees, with sustaining the trade and supporting their business".

Within the last 10 years there had been six different licensees at the premises according to Robinson's.

The brewery claimed that drinking trends had "significantly altered in recent times" which had a "significant impact" on the "volume of public houses which could be sustained by the reduced consumption in alcohol."

Robinson's Brewery added in their letter: "The assessment of the business at the Coach and Horses showed that there was insufficient turnover at the property to provide an adequate and sustainable income for a tenant.

"The decision was thus taken to close the pub when the last licensee advised they were wishing to terminate their agreement. The pub ceased trading in July 2020."

The pub has been a public house serving the community and surrounding area since 1744.

The application was discussed at last Thursday's Congleton Town Council planning meeting.

Cllr Kay Wesley felt the town council should object to the application on the grounds of change of use, but also object on those grounds due to the 200 objections submitted by residents on Cheshire East's planning portal, who would lose their pub.

Cllr Wesley added: "It is the only pub that is accessible from Timbersbrook and all the countryside round there, it has been a meeting place, watering hole and eating place for many many generations.

"I think this application would remove that social interaction from a whole section of the rural community around Timbersbrook, which has huge implications, particularly as there are a lot of people living in that area who live alone or retired.

"The public are objecting, and they are objecting for very good reason and I think we should be refusing change of use.

"It seems that there is so much local energy around saving the Coach and Horses pub and there are posters on all the lampposts around and a lot of public feeling about this, I think we should be giving them a shot at this and not permitting the change of use from a public house to a private residential dwelling."

Cllr Duncan Amies has been told that a consortium who wanted to make an offer on the pub and contacted Robinson's Brewery was reportedly told that the brewery was not interested in engaging in talks.

Cllr Amies said: "That is a real shame because there is a strength of feeling there and we need to keep our pubs, we do not need another luxury house."

Cllr Suzy Firkin was concerned that the "horse had already bolted" and the pub may had already been sold to the developer by the brewery.

This was confirmed by both councillors Amies and David Brown.

Cllr Brown told the committee that local residents were trying to rally together to ensure the pub was retained as a "community pub".

However, after confirming the public house had been sold to the developer, Cllr Brown stated that the only way of "arresting control" back from the new owner would be if he got the message "very loud and clear" that his plans for a house would not be supported.

Cllr Brown told the committee that the new owner has already had people inside the pub and knocked some of the walls down.

Cllr Brown added: "He has tried to make it so that for somebody to go back in and run it as a pub it would actually cost a reasonable amount of money to put that together.

"However, the community of Timbersbrook are trying to acquire it as a community asset and there is special legislation that allows people to do that."

The Conservative councillor has been told that there are two previous landlords of the pub, who would be interested in running the pub as a private business and part community facility with the support of local residents.

Congleton Town Council objected to the application on the grounds that the existing facility should be preserved and would support the community in making a Community Asset claim.

The town council noted that the applicant has also failed to provide a Heritage Statement and detailed Heritage Impact Assessment prepared by a suitably qualified independent heritage consultant.

Furthermore, the town council agreed with Cheshire East Conservation and Design Team's comments that the application should be refused.

The reasons for refusal included that some of the proposed internal alterations were unacceptable, proposed rear two-storey extension is overwhelming and dominates the rear elevation.

That would be harmful to the surviving Georgian character reinstate a traditional pitched roof to the stone outbuilding being used to create a double garage.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Robert Moreton told Nub News: "As well as being an East Ward Independent councillor, I have also been the postman for Timbersbrook for over 10 years.

"I can safely say that it's a fantastic community and it would be scandalous for the Coach and Horses to become a detached dwelling.

"I have seen with my own eyes how the local people have come together to object to the change of use of this public house.

"I believe if the Coach and Horses became a freehouse and community pub, it would be a roaring success for many years to come and when we are eventually back to normal after Covid-19, it will be a fantastic place for the people of Congleton and other areas to socialise."

The last date for submitting comments on the application which can be viewed here is 25 January.

Cheshire East has set 16 February as the decision target date for the plans.