LATEST NEWS
17 September 2019 - Parish Council Meeting
It was standing room only at the village hall this evening, as the future of our beloved pub was discussed at the Parish Council's 'open forum'.
Firstly, the owners of the Fox were invited to make a statement. My summary of what they said was:
- since taking over the Fox they had to install a walk-in fridge. Also, two studio flats were built on the first floor, rather than the three originally planned. Because of the changes to the original plans, a revised planning application was submitted, and planning permission granted.
- meanwhile, they have received many complaints from a small number of individuals, regarding noise from equipment, and from music (for which they have a licence), and regarding odours from the kitchen, and some overflow pipes.
- to make all the required repairs will cost a huge amount of money, which they do not have.
- the pub and restaurant has been losing money for the last 12 months.
- there are some loyal regular customers, but the whole village is not supporting the pub.
The chair of the Parish Council then read out a statement from Huntingdonshire District Council. This explained that when their Environmental Health Officer visited the site, they found that some of the requirements of the planning consent had not been met. To rectify this, the chiller unit would need to be relocated to the rear of the site, and some overflow pipes moved.
There followed much discussion amongst residents. A neighbour of the pub was given the opportunity to speak about the problems faced from his point of view. Some people speculated on what they thought the Fox could have done to attract more customers. Many people lamented the loss of the pub and expressed their thanks to the owners for providing a place they could go to meet friends, enjoy a drink or a meal or simply get out of the house for a while.
To conclude, the owners do not yet know whether they will re-open, although at the moment it is looking unlikely. They are still looking at options and have not yet decided what to do next.
I for one hope that some solution can be found, as I miss our pub!
1 September 2019 - Fox Closed for Repairs
After two and a half years of happy eating, drinking and merriment, the Fox has had to 'temporarily' close in order to complete some urgent repairs. It is understood that these primarily relate to kitchen equipment and extractor fans.
It is not known when, or if, our lovely pub will re-open. This is of course deeply concerning and we await further news.
22 April 2017 - The Fox Re-opens at last!
After extensive refurbishment making the site all but unrecogniseable inside, the Fox has finally opened its doors again today! People of Folksworth and beyond are delighted to have a local pub back in use, and with a beautiful restaurant too.
We wish the new owners all the best with their new business! For more information, please refer to the pub's own website http://www.foxatfolksworth.co.uk/
Thank you.
18 January 2017
The owners of the Fox have said that they expect to re-open "some time in February".
For more details, and a couple of photos of the building work, see the Clarke's restaurant Facebook page here.
We are looking forward to it!
11 November 2016 - Planning Permission Granted, and 'Asset of Community Value' status (partially) maintained.
Huntingdonshire District Council have granted planning permission for the Fox to become a pub and restaurant, with new rear extension, and the upstairs to be converted to three studio flats. Great news!
On the same day, we were notified that the Council have decided under section 91 of the Localism Act 2011 that The Fox Public house and land used for parking areas, petanque/boules, and beer garden (Land Registry Title Number CB142154) has been included in Huntingdonshire District Council’s list of Assets of Community Value. The land/property will remain on their list of Assets of Community Value for up to five years. So that is good news.
However, the field adjacent to the rear parking area has not been included. This means that that area of land is no longer protected for community use. We have been told that the panel was of the view that although the field area did further the social wellbeing of the community with events such as the fete and bonfire night etc, that such use was 'ancillary' to the function of the rest of the site as a pub, and therefore excluded it.
This is a blow, but since the majority of our nomination has been accepted, we will not be appealing.
Meanwhile, building work is underway...
20 September 2016 - Planning Application Amended
The planning application has now been AMENDED to state that it will be both a pub AND a restaurant, which is fantastic news. Whilst the original application reduced the pub use to zero and restaurant to 100%, the new amended application reduces the pub area from 94 to 60 square metres (but crucially still has a pub area) and increases the restaurant area from 36 to 170 square metres (including the new extension).
Given this new information, we are now prepared to SUPPORT the application and encourage you to do the same. The deadline for public comments has now been extended to 4 October.
You can make your comment here (you must register and log in first):
Or you can do so in writing. Here are instructions how to do so:
http://www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/planning/comment-on-a-planning-application/
FVPS have written to HDC to say that we now support the application on the condition that it is the amended version.
17 September 2016 - 'Asset of Community Value' status needs to be renewed
We have received notification that the Fox site has been automatically removed from the list of Assets of Community Value. This happens whenever an ACV site is sold and is a quirk of the regulations. However, Folksworth Village Pub Company Ltd have made a new application to re-nominate the pub site once again, on the basis that nothing has changed and it is still of just as much value to the community as a pub, to get it back on the list of Assets of Community Value.
HDC have 8 weeks to decide if it goes back on or not. However, the fact that it was until recently an ACV and the fact that it has been nominated as an ACV again, means that they still have to give some weight to that when considering the planning application.
30 August 2016 - Planning Application Submitted
*BREAKING NEWS* - The new owners of the Fox have submitted their planning application to Huntingdonshire District Council. It is open to the public for consultation and comment now. The deadline for comments is 22 September.
You can view and download the planning application documents, and make your comments here:
Notes:
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The application is for a rear extension plus change of use from category A4 (drinking establishments) to A3 (restaurants). Worryingly, there is no mention in the planning application of retaining a pub aspect of the site.
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In addition they are planning to convert the top floor from 1 3-bed flat to 3 studio flats.
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Total floor area for the restaurant will be larger than the pub used to be.
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The site plan attached excludes the back field.
We are of course pleased to see the pub brought back into use and would be very happy to have a restaurant there alongside the pub, but we are concerned that the plans make no mention of retaining at least part of the site as a pub (use A4). As an Asset of Community Value, the pub aspect of the site is extremely important to the village and must be retained. We recommend OPPOSING the plans in their current form, but would be happy to support an amended plan for mixed pub and restaurant use.
NB. If Planning permission for change of use to 100% class A3 (restaurants) was granted then we would have no pub facility at all - as the site would no longer have category A4 (drinking establishments) permission - meaning it couldn't have a pub bit even if they wanted to! The Fox has been a pub for over 300 years and a MIXED pub and restaurant planning use class is absolutely essential.
19 July 2016 - Great news about the Fox! We're going to get our pub back, and a nice restaurant as well.
It has now been confirmed that the new owners of the Fox are the same people who own Clarkes restaurant in Peterborough. They plan to turn the Fox into an upmarket gastro-pub. It will still have a 'snug' area where people can come for drinks and snacks, with the restaurant area on the right. They were keen to emphasise that they wanted to give the village a pub back.
They are aiming to open by October but will definitely be open before Christmas.
I'm sure you'll all agree this is excellent news for the village!
11 March 2016 - The Fox SOLD!!!
*BREAKING NEWS* - A 'SOLD' sign has appeared on the front of the Fox today.
At the time of writing, we do not know who the buyer is or what their plans are for the site.
Fingers crossed...
10 March 2016 - Government Launches New £3.6 million programme to help communities take control of their local pub
A major new support and finance programme to help people take control of their local pub for the benefit of the community has been announced by Community Pubs Minister Marcus Jones.
More than a Pub: The Community Pub Business Support Programme is a £3.62 million, 2-year programme that will see a comprehensive package of business development support, advice, and loan and grant funding being delivered to community groups in England to help them establish community-owned pubs.
This is fantastic news for FVPS, but of course would still depend on the pub being buyable at a reasonable price.
3 July 2015 - Folksworth Village Pub Company Limited is Born
A group of members of Folksworth Village Pub Society has created a new company called Folksworth Village Pub Company Limited (registered in England, number 9670604). This is a company limited by guarantee that is non profit distributing. It is written in to the company's Articles of Association that the Directors receive no pay, and that any profits that the company make can only be used for the benefit of community assets in the local area.
Folksworth Village Pub Company has written to Huntingdonshire District Council to confirm that it wishes to be treated as a potential bidder for the Fox, and thus has triggered the full moratorium on the sale. See our 'ACV' page to learn more about what this process is.
18 June 2015 - FVPS Members Vote to Trigger the Full Moratorium
The members of Folksworth Village Pub Society, after much discussion, have voted overwhelmingly in favour of triggering the extension to the moratorium on the sale of the Fox. This was seen as the best chance of saving the pub.
The society will now need to become a formal legal entity in order to do this, of one of the types that counts as an official "community interest group" - this could be a Charity, a company limited by guarantee that is non-profit-distributing, a community interest company, or a community benefit socity.
28 May 2015 - New Moratorium Period Now Applies to the Fox
Huntingdonshire District Council has written to Folksworth Village Pub Society to confirm that, since the Fox is still up for sale, and because of the time elapsed, a new interim moratorium period now automatically applies. This will last until 9 July 2015. During this time, any community interest group (as defined in the Localism Act 2011) may request in writing to be treated as a potential bidder. If they do, then the full six month moratorium would apply. During the moratorium, the owner may not sell the site, except to a community interest group. This provides a fantastic opportunity to revive our campaign to save our pub.
26 January 2015 - Government Proposes to Further Protect Pubs
Very promising news - Ministers have announced today a commitment to removing permitted development rights for pubs listed as Assets of Community Value, giving greater protection against the pub being demolished or converted into a different use against the will of local people. Read the full announcement here: - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/coalition-ministers-change-the-law-to-protect-the-great-british-pub
27 February 2014 - Community survey results published
FVPS has published the results of its survey to the residents of Folksworth and surrounding areas. The survey was launched to find out what local people really think about our pub, and the results were very encouraging, with 98% of us being pub-goers, 89% saying having a pub in their local area was important to them, and everyone saying that they would use the Fox if it re-opened. Click here to find out more about what the locals think!
18 January 2014 - FVPS Community Surveys Returned
The responses have come in from our survey to local residents. We are now busy analysing the results and will publish these soon! Many thanks to everyone who completed the survey - your opinions are vital to us!
22 November 2013 - The Fox for sale again.
The Fox pub has been put up for sale once again, with a different estate agent this time. Despite having been on the market at a very high price for several months earlier this year, with no buyers coming forward, the owner has now put an even higher asking price on the property.
There is speculation that the intention is to turn the plot into a development site, but no planning permission has been applied for as yet. Since Folksworth is not a designated area for any additional development in the district council's plan up to the year 2036, we think it is unlikely that planning permission would be granted for several houses on the site.
7 November 2013 - Hunts DC Confirm the Fox is to Remain an Asset of Community Value
Today we received the brilliant news from Huntingdonshire District Council, that the Fox is to stay listed as an Asset of Community Value, despite the review that was requested by the owner. This just serves to demonstrate what a good case we have put forward - proof that the pub COULD be successful in the right circumstances. Thanks to all who helped!
We are also starting to get responses in from our online community survey. Please click here to complete it if you haven't already. Thanks!
30 October 2013 - Community Survey Launched
Folksworth Village Pub Society are issuing a community-wide questionnaire to help to determine the level of interest and hands-on support that is available, the services that people want or need and the most popular opening hours; it will also help to identify any potential barriers and opportunities. Potential funding bodies will require this information when assessing our applications for grants or loans. The questionnaire will be hand delivered to every household in Folksworth over the next couple of weeks, and is also available here on our website for people to complete instantly online. It's really important that we get as many people's opinions as possible, as this will help us to decide what to do next.
1 October 2013 - Hunts DC Request Extension to ACV Review Deadline
Huntingdonshire District Council have contacted the owner of the Fox to request an extension to their deadline for the review of the Assets of Community Value status. This is to give all parties time to obtain additional evidence. They will now make their decision by 10th November.
They have asked FVPS some questions about the possibilities for the future of the pub, which we are responding to. This will be added to the documentation we have already provided, for the panel to consider.
10 September 2013 - Plunkett Foundation Agree to Support our Project
Great news - the Plunkett Foundation have confirmed they would like to support our project, by offering us 2 days support from co-operatives expert Andrew Purdy, for in-depth advice regarding the setting up of a co-operative pub; he will also work with us to draw up an action plan. In addition to this at this stage, we have also secured 1/2 a day’s legal structure and community share issue support from Plunkett's in-house specialist Donna Smith. Donna’s time will be funded under their My Community Rights programme. After that we will still have 1.5 days support outstanding, and the Plunkett Foundation will then re-assess our needs and most likely support us to draw up our business plan.
4 September 2013 - Fox Owner Requests ACV Review
Today we have received a letter from Huntingdonshire District Council informing us that the owner of the Fox has requested that they review their decision to list the pub as an Asset of Community Value. They are required to conclude their review by 10th October 2013. We are invited to submit additional evidence to inform the review panel if we wish. This is an inconvenience, but we are confident that the ACV status will stay, as we have made a really strong case and nothing has changed since the original nomination.
28 August 2013 - Members' Meeting
Folksworth Village Pub Society held their first meeting. Despite being holiday season, there was a really good turnout. We discussed the pros and cons of triggering the moratorium on the sale, and talked about what we might do to save the pub. The meeting confirmed that we still want to proceed with looking into options and making plans to save our pub.
9 August 2013 - Success! - The Fox Inn Now Listed as an Asset of Community Value
FVPS got confirmation today that their nomination of the Fox pub as an Asset of Community Value was successful. WE DID IT!!!
We have now made it much less likely that anyone could use this site for something other than a pub.
BUT The hard work now begins... we now have 6 weeks to decide whether or not we want to trigger the full 6-month moratorium. (deadline is 20 September).
At the time of writing, the pub is still for sale. FVPS don't know what other interest there might be from other potential buyers.
5 July 2013 - Nomination Form Submitted to the District Council
Last night we sent off the completed nomination form to get the Fox listed as an Asset of Community Value!
What will happen next?
Huntingdonshire District Council have up to 8 weeks to make the decision whether or not to list it. They will have to let the freehold owner, and the leaseholder, and the parish council know that it has been nominated.
Once they have made their decision, and assuming the nomination is successful, then if the pub is still for sale at that point, we will then have 6 weeks from then to decide what to do next - specifically whether or not to trigger the full six month moratorium. Hopefully we will have more information by then about any potential buyers which will help inform our decision.
18 June 2013 - Petition Presented to the Parish Council
The petition to nominate the pub as an asset of community value was presented to the parish council with 116 signatures, at the public forum of their meeting on 18 June 2013.
After a discussion the council decided however not to make the nomination at this time.
Therefore we are forming a new organisation, called Folksworth Village Pub Society, to make the nomination ourselves. We legally need 21 or more members to do this.
We still believe that our pub does have potential to be a successful business in future, and that getting on the community asset list is the best way to keep all options open for saving the pub.
21 May 2013 - Idea to list the pub as an Asset of Community Value
It has been suggested to the parish council that they nominate the Fox on the district council's list of Assets of Community Value. Sarah Wilkinson made the case at the public forum of the parish council's regular meeting.
The main advantages of listing are:
1. Where pubs are listed this enables communities to ‘stop the clock’ for up to six months, when they’re put up for sale, giving time to consider options for saving the pub.
2. The listed status of a pub can also be used by a local authority as a material consideration in a relevant planning application, such as if a pub is threatened with conversion to residential use.
A discussion was held with some being for and some against the idea. The council decided it would keep the issue on the agenda but needed more information before proceeding further.
29 April 2013 - Closure of the pub
The Fox Inn sadly closed its doors.