Calls to raise a glass to the Crooked House campaign in Himley
Mr Sandall said: "It doesn't matter where you are in the world; whatever time of the day, you can raise a glass and have a cheer."You can have a thought, you can have a moment of reflection [and] post the selfie to the Facebook page. It is a show of strength across the world for the Crooked House."He added: "You see the wheels of motion in authorities not turning that quickly. I understand that. "However, we have to believe that this pub is going to be rebuilt. It's too great a loss to the Black Country, to the pub industry, to our Black Country DNA... for it not to be rebuilt."
In February last year, South Staffordshire Council served an enforcement notice on the pub's owners, ATE Farms Limited, ordering them to restore the pub within three years.An appeal against the move was lodged by the owners, who had purchased the Crooked House from Marstons in July 2023. A public inquiry was set to decide the outcome of the standoff, but that inquiry has been delayed.According to the council, the planning inspectorate accepted the owners' request for postponement and said it was preferable to deal with the appeal following any potential separate court action relating to the fire.The inspectorate noted, however, that the delay should not go on indefinitely.The council said it "remained committed" to resolving the matter, and it was awaiting a decision from Staffordshire Police regarding its ongoing investigations.
Asked if she had a realistic hope that it could be rebuilt at the overgrown site, Jackie Marsh, from Save The Crooked House, said: "Yes, definitely."She added: "I believe that the technology we've got in these days, that that will help more so than hinder."Once it starts, I'm sure that everybody will be helping; architects, building inspectors, everybody will all come on board."
Mike Wood, the Conservative MP for Kingswinford and South Staffordshire, said: "We all want it concluded as quickly as possible, but the important thing is we need the right outcome."We need whoever is responsible to be held accountable for their actions."Staffordshire Police said its investigation was ongoing and a file had been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service.
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Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Sad demise of Britain's wonkiest pub The Crooked House that's now DUMPING ground for piles of mattresses, toys & fridges
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BRITAIN'S wonkiest pub has become a dumping ground two years after it was destroyed in a devastating blaze. The Crooked House, in Himley, West Midlands was targeted in a suspected arson attack before being bulldozed two days later in August 2023. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 The former site of The Crooked House, in Himley, near Dudley, West Midlands Credit: SWNS 5 The boozer was destroyed in a devastating blaze, angry campaigners allege Credit: SWNS in 2024, the local council ordered the watering hole's owners to rebuild the charred building. However, since its demise, the site has become an epicentre for antisocial behaviour - including fly-tipping. Discarded kitchen appliances, mattresses and toys have all been dumped along the lane leading to the once popular boozer by locals. Residents have slammed the lack of action to revive the pub. read more in news LAST RESORT 'Vigilante army' to patrol UK seaside town plagued by murders and stabbings Pub regular Martin Eley, 49, said: "To see the site now is heartbreaking, it is just in a state of ruin and nobody has done anything about it." "It is scandalous that is has been allowed to happen. "Nothing has been done and something needs to change as it will only get worse. "The longer this goes on like this, the less chance there is of it ever being rebuilt." Paul Baker, 61, was a local at the pub from the age of 15, doubled down: "I've lived in the area all my life and I came here with my parents. "And then later in life we'd have a great time. So many memories, it's been part of my life. I cannot believe its gone, I'm devastated. Pubgoers shocked as they spot Hollywood A-lister sinking pints outside London pub "Its a shame something so nice has just disappeared from the land."It's something that you thought you would never see. "This should have been here forever, it was a national treasure. "There will never be another one like it, even if they rebuild it, it wouldn't be the same, but I hope they do." Facebook group Save the Crooked House has over 37.5k members and its plight and that of other heritage pubs has being brought up in Parliament a number of times. The Crooked House pub was ravaged by fire and then destroyed by a bulldozer two years ago this week. The future of the site has been thrown into doubt after the company linked to the site went bust with debts of more than £1.2 million. Himley Environmental operated a landfill site, controlled by Adam Taylor, who is sole director of the firm which bought the Crooked House. At the time of the blaze, the landfill was said to be connected to a ongoing "feud" with brewery bosses over access to the site It was put into voluntary liquidation following court action over environmental breaches. Kingswinford and South Staffordshire MP Mike Wood spoke in Parliament during the government support for the Hospitality Sector debate on July 1. He said: "Himley Environmental, who owned and managed the landfill site, are now in liquidation, so the picture is far from clear. "The lane is a public right of way but access is now difficult due to the massive amount of fly tipping. "It is encouraging to see a secure gate has been put up to try and prevent further incidents but I am very worried about the brook issue which is making the path dangerous, and also the offensive smell in the area. "Two years on we continue to fight for the Crooked House to be re-built and are trying to put pressure on the authorities over the legal process, which seems to be dragging along but in the meantime it is important that the site remains fit for purpose when it potentially is re-built. "I am writing to the Environment Agency and the county council to express my concerns and hopefully will have a site visit and meeting with them in the near future. "In May campaigners wrote to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) urging them to make a decision on whether those under investigation for the fire will be charged. A spokesman for the CPS said they hadn't been given a file by police. But a spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: "The six people that were arrested have been released from bail and are now released under investigation. "Our investigation is ongoing and a file has been submitted to the CPS." A statement from South Staffordshire Council said it "remained committed" to resolving the matter. 5 A sign of the former site of The Crooked House in Himley Credit: SWNS 5 The spot has become a dumping ground for locals Credit: SWNS
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
Sad demise of Britain's wonkiest pub The Crooked House that's now DUMPING ground for piles of mattresses, toys & fridges
BRITAIN'S wonkiest pub has become a dumping ground two years after it was destroyed in a devastating blaze. The Crooked House, in Himley, West Midlands was targeted in a suspected arson attack before being bulldozed two days later in August 2023. 5 5 in 2024, the local council ordered the watering hole's owners to rebuild the charred building. However, since its demise, the site has become an epicentre for antisocial behaviour - including fly-tipping. Discarded kitchen appliances, mattresses and toys have all been dumped along the lane leading to the once popular boozer by locals. Residents have slammed the lack of action to revive the pub. Pub regular Martin Eley, 49, said: "To see the site now is heartbreaking, it is just in a state of ruin and nobody has done anything about it." "It is scandalous that is has been allowed to happen. "Nothing has been done and something needs to change as it will only get worse. "The longer this goes on like this, the less chance there is of it ever being rebuilt." Paul Baker, 61, was a local at the pub from the age of 15, doubled down: "I've lived in the area all my life and I came here with my parents. "And then later in life we'd have a great time. So many memories, it's been part of my life. I cannot believe its gone, I'm devastated. Pubgoers shocked as they spot Hollywood A-lister sinking pints outside London pub "Its a shame something so nice has just disappeared from the land."It's something that you thought you would never see. "This should have been here forever, it was a national treasure. "There will never be another one like it, even if they rebuild it, it wouldn't be the same, but I hope they do." Facebook group Save the Crooked House has over 37.5k members and its plight and that of other heritage pubs has being brought up in Parliament a number of times. The Crooked House pub was ravaged by fire and then destroyed by a bulldozer two years ago this week. The future of the site has been thrown into doubt after the company linked to the site went bust with debts of more than £1.2 million. Himley Environmental operated a landfill site, controlled by Adam Taylor, who is sole director of the firm which bought the Crooked House. At the time of the blaze, the landfill was said to be connected to a ongoing "feud" with brewery bosses over access to the site It was put into voluntary liquidation following court action over environmental breaches. Kingswinford and South Staffordshire MP Mike Wood spoke in Parliament during the government support for the Hospitality Sector debate on July 1. He said: "Himley Environmental, who owned and managed the landfill site, are now in liquidation, so the picture is far from clear. "The lane is a public right of way but access is now difficult due to the massive amount of fly tipping. "It is encouraging to see a secure gate has been put up to try and prevent further incidents but I am very worried about the brook issue which is making the path dangerous, and also the offensive smell in the area. "Two years on we continue to fight for the Crooked House to be re-built and are trying to put pressure on the authorities over the legal process, which seems to be dragging along but in the meantime it is important that the site remains fit for purpose when it potentially is re-built. "I am writing to the Environment Agency and the county council to express my concerns and hopefully will have a site visit and meeting with them in the near future. "In May campaigners wrote to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) urging them to make a decision on whether those under investigation for the fire will be charged. A spokesman for the CPS said they hadn't been given a file by police. But a spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: "The six people that were arrested have been released from bail and are now released under investigation. "Our investigation is ongoing and a file has been submitted to the CPS." A statement from South Staffordshire Council said it "remained committed" to resolving the matter. 5 5 5
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Telegraph
Britain's wonkiest pub site is ‘decaying dumping ground' two years after demolition
The site of Britain's wonkiest pub has been 'left to rot' and become a 'decaying dumping ground' two years after being destroyed in a suspected arson attack. The Crooked House, in Himley, West Midlands, was set on fire and then bulldozed two days later in August 2023. Last year, South Staffordshire council ordered the pub's current owners to rebuild it after its unlawful demolition. But campaigners have said that the former location of the historical building has become a hotspot for fly-tipping and antisocial behaviour, and has gone to 'absolute ruin'. Piles of fridges, mattresses, bin liners, children's toys and tyres have been dumped along the lane leading to the site, and drug paraphernalia can be seen littering the area. Residents have criticised the 'scandalous lack of action' two years on from the fire, which destroyed the famous tilted pub. Martin Eley, 49, previously a pub regular, said: 'To see the site now is heartbreaking, it is just in a state of ruin and nobody has done anything about it. 'The place was once home to one of the UK's most unique pubs – now it is a decaying dumping ground.' Paul Baker, 61, who was a local at the pub, said: 'I've lived in the area all my life and I came here with my should have been here for ever, it was a national treasure. The Facebook group Save the Crooked House has more than 37,500 members and its plight and that of other heritage pubs has being brought up in Parliament several times. Paul Turner, from the Save the Crooked House group, said the group 'want answers as to who will pick up the responsibility for the site'. He said: 'The aim has always been and continues to be to get the Crooked House re-built brick by brick but at the moment, two years on, we are worried about the safety of the area immediately in front of it. The Crooked House pub was gutted by a fire on August 5 2023 and destroyed by a bulldozer two days later. The future of the site has been thrown into doubt after the company linked to the site went bust with debts of more than £1.2 million. Himley Environmental operated a landfill site, controlled by Adam Taylor, who is sole director of the firm which bought the Crooked House. It was put into voluntary liquidation following court action over environmental breaches. Kingswinford and South Staffordshire Tory MP Mike Wood spoke in Parliament during the government support for the Hospitality Sector debate on July 1. He said: 'Two years on we continue to fight for the Crooked House to be re-built and are trying to put pressure on the authorities over the legal process, which seems to be dragging along but in the meantime it is important that the site remains fit for purpose when it potentially is re-built.' In May, campaigners wrote to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) urging them to make a decision on whether those under investigation for the fire will be charged . A spokesman for the CPS said they hadn't been given a file by police. But a spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: 'The six people that were arrested have been released from bail and are now released under investigation. 'Our investigation is ongoing and a file has been submitted to the CPS.'
