Hart District Council (HDC) has placed three Fleet pubs on its register of Assets of Community Value (ACV). The nominations were made by the Fleet and Church Crookham Society (FCCS) and endorsed by Fleet Town Council (FTC).
The three pubs are the Fox and Hounds in Crookham Road and the Old Emporium and the Oat Sheaf in the town centre.
Registering a property as an ACV gives it some protection against planning changes and, should the property come up for sale, the local community must be offered the opportunity to bid to purchase the property – although there is no Right to Buy.
But perhaps more significantly, listing the property is recognition by the community that it values that property and wishes to see its continued use. It makes a clear statement about things we wish to preserve and well make our community what it is.
Patric Downes, the FCCS committee member who led the application process, said: “We are delighted that all three applications were endorsed by FTC and accepted by HDC. These three pubs are different in character but all three have served, and continue to serve, the local community in different ways. They are three very valuable local features.”
David Bentley, Chairman of FCCS added: “We are especially pleased that the Fox and Hounds has been registered. It has been serving the community for over 150 years and is a real ‘local’ pub.”
Graham Dale,Landlord at the Fox and Hounds, said: “All of us at the Fox and Hounds work hard to make the Fox and Hounds a great local pub, and this is real recognition by the community that our efforts are truly appreciated.”
Shops, pubs, community halls, playing fields and so on, can all be nominated for listing and F&CCS welcomes suggestions for other properties that should be considered as ACVs. If you wish to suggest a property, please contact us.
Pictured are the committee with Landlord Graham Dale, outside the Fox & Hounds:
