Landlord battles to keep lights on (From Penarth Times)

Landlord battles to keep lights on

PETTY bureaucracy could spell ruin for the landlord of a picturesque pub near Stroud unless a government inspector comes to the rescue.

The lights will go out after more than 20 years on The Bell Inn in Selsley if the landlord does not win his appeal and the hanging baskets are also under threat.

Immortalised on a postcard, The Bell Inn has been illuminated by a string of lights for as long as Selsley residents can remember. In April, owner Mark Priestley was stunned to receive a notice from Stroud District Council saying that he had to apply for planning permission to keep the lights.

"The lights had been up at the pub for over 20 years when Nina and I bought the pub in November 1998," explained Mr Priestley. "About 25 per cent weren't working so I spent 600 replacing them with new lights in April."

At the subsequent planning meeting in May the council refused permission for the lights.

"They told me that the lights were on two important and visible parts of the building and that they are visually obtrusive," said an exasperated Mr Priestley.

"But it wouldn't be much point putting the lights where they can't be seen would it?"

Mr Priestley has the backing of Selsley residents and King's Stanley Parish Council. With no shops or post office and four other pubs having closed, The Bell Inn is a vital focal point for the village.

"It is absolutely stupid," said Selsley's Elizabeth Gardner. "No-one in the village objects and the people that complained have moved out anyway. "We want to encourage people to go to the village pub." Landlord battles to keep lights on by Linda Diggory

PETTY bureaucracy could spell ruin for the landlord of a picturesque pub near Stroud unless a government inspector comes to the rescue.

The lights will go out after more than 20 years on The Bell Inn in Selsley if the landlord does not win his appeal and the hanging baskets are also under threat.

Immortalised on a postcard, The Bell Inn has been illuminated by a string of lights for as long as Selsley residents can remember. In April, owner Mark Priestley was stunned to receive a notice from Stroud District Council saying that he had to apply for planning permission to keep the lights.

"The lights had been up at the pub for over 20 years when Nina and I bought the pub in November 1998," explained Mr Priestley. "About 25 per cent weren't working so I spent 600 replacing them with new lights in April."

At the subsequent planning meeting in May the council refused permission for the lights.

"They told me that the lights were on two important and visible parts of the building and that they are visually obtrusive," said an exasperated Mr Priestley.

"But it wouldn't be much point putting the lights where they can't be seen would it?"

Mr Priestley has the backing of Selsley residents and King's Stanley Parish Council. With no shops or post office and four other pubs having closed, The Bell Inn is a vital focal point for the village.

"It is absolutely stupid," said Selsley's Elizabeth Gardner. "No-one in the village objects and the people that complained have moved out anyway. "We want to encourage people to go to the village pub."