Renewed fears for Black Horse future (From St Helens Star)

Renewed fears for Black Horse future

9:53am Thursday 10th January 2013 in News

FRESH fears over the future of an historic pub have arisen after a planning application was submitted to demolish it.

Less than a month ago, plans to build houses on the site of the Black Horse in Moss Bank were withdrawn after a colony of bats was discovered there.

The news is likely to cause uproar among neighbours, who have been campaigning to save the building, which dates back to the late 1700s.

There has so far been no decision over the application.

A council spokesperson explained: “The council is satisfied that relevant legal processes are being followed by the contractor.

"We now have up to 28 days to determine the planning prior notification application and up to six weeks to serve a section 81 counter notice which, primarily, would involve any safety issues we were concerned about.

"The developer has been made aware of local concerns regarding bats, a protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and it is the developer’s responsibility to ensure no animals will be affected by the proposed work.

"The council has reiterated to the developer that no demolition work should be carried out until this is confirmed."