YEOVIL NEWS: Another death knell for town's pub trade

A COUNCILLOR believes the planned conversion of a Yeovil public house into a convenience store is another “death knell” in the tradition of the great British pub.

Cllr Jon Gleeson is inviting people to a meeting of the Yeovil Without Parish Council on Tuesday, October 28, 2014, at 7.30pm at Bucklers Mead Academy.

An application submitted by the Southern Co-op to make external alterations of the former Fleur De Lys pub – which sits on the corner of St Michael’s Avenue with Mudford Road – in readiness for turning it into a food store will be discussed by parish councillors.

“I am inviting members of the public to come and express their frustration at what is happening to their local pub as we witness another death knell in the great British pub,” said Cllr Gleeson.

A number of pubs in Yeovil have been lost in recent years – most recently the Picketty Witch on Ilchester Road was turned into a Tesco store.

And Cllr Gleeson added: “I would emplore Southern Co-op to not add their name to the list of companies who have encouraged this decline in the town I represent.”

Cllr Gleeson, who is also a member of Yeovil Town Council and South Somerset District Council, has written to the Southern Co-op asking the company to think again about its plans.

“Whilst I accept that a business decision has been made, it has been made with no consultation of the local population, especially given the lack of legislation in a change of use from a pub to a food store,” he said.

“It is an all too familiar sight these days as decisions over pub closures happen behind closed doors with employees and patrons being told at the eleventh hour that their pub is to close.”

Cllr Gleeson has asked the company – which took the Fleur De Lys pub building on a lease from owners Punch Taverns – to consider alternative uses for the site beyond a simple food store.

PHOTOS: Cllr Jon Gleeson is asking the Southern Co-op NOT to turn the Fleur De Lys pub in Yeovil into a food store.

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