THE Save The Queens community interest group has taken the bold step of becoming incorporated and has raised thousands of pounds for an independent valuation in its bid to rescue the pub from the hand of developers.

Faced with tomorrow’s deadline for objections to a further planning application to East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) by the owners of The Queens Hotel in Selborne, the 90-strong community interest group has now become a limited company and is putting all its energy into producing a viable rescue plan in a bid to avoid the loss of what they consider to be “a key community asset” to housing.

Save the Queens chairman Caroline Rye said: “EHDC had previously agreed, and then retracted, its approval to allow additional time, under the terms of asset of community value legislation, for the group to raise funds to make an offer for the pub, on the grounds that Save the Queens was not an incorporated body – despite prior erroneous information from EHDC that this was not necessary.

“This error resulted in the loss of a moratorium period during which the community could put forward alternative, viable plans for the building. Later, as part of a separate review process, EHDC then decided to withdraw the asset of community value designation from the pub altogether.”

Selborne Parish Council has now submitted a new asset application to EHDC and, on June 19, Save The Queens Ltd paid thousands of pounds, raised in the village, for a formal valuation of the pub.”

These are important steps, said Mrs Rye.

“The asset of community value is one means by which inflated residential property prices can be prevented from depriving communities of vital local amenities and the valuation provides the foundation for the business case, which is being constructed by Save The Queens Ltd to return the pub to use - by either offering to purchase it or encouraging others to do so, at its realistic market value as a pub,” she said

“In the current planning application, the developers have again asserted that there is no interest in the pub being a viable business. The actions of supporters of Save the Queens Ltd and the valuation categorically prove this to be false.

“Save the Queens believes that, having proved community interest, it should now be given the time to progress its plans for The Queens – which will not be possible if the current planning application is granted.”

And Mrs Rye added: “We have come far and have been heartened by the support from the community. We believe that the deliberate stripping of the pub’s interior fittings and allowing the exterior to become a sad eyesore is aimed at weakening the resolve of locals who cherish the charm of Selborne and its historic buildings.

“The Queens has a remarkable history. There has been a hostelry on the site from before the time of Gilbert White.”

Tony Davis, the East Hampshire pubs officer for the Campaign for Real Ale group, said it was another “depressing example of unscrupulous developers closing a viable business and allowing the pub to deteriorate with the aim of convincing locals that development would be an improvement”.

n The decision on the application SDNP/18/02564/FULL for conversion and alteration of the existing Queens building and barn to form four residential dwellings is due on July 17.