The Herefordshire branch of Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) are objecting to a planning proposal which is seeking to convert the Riverside Inn in Ross-on-Wye into four two-bedroom dwellings.

In a letter sent to local CAMRA members, Mark Haslam, the campaigns and public affairs officer, wrote: “Herefordshire CAMRA has grave reservations regarding this proposal. Whilst it is acknoledged that the pub is currently closed and it is not in the best condition, we believe that this alone does not constitute sufficiently good reason for it to be converted.”

Mr Haslam argues that the Riverside Inn has a long and successful trading history. In the letter, he states that the organisation spoke to Michael Hall, at the Pelican in Gloucester, who ran the Riverside Inn for several years, and he told them he “made a good living there.” Mr Hasam added that he told them: “it could do good business again in the right hands.”

Mr Haslam concluded: “It is our view that an alternative operator (willing to run it as a pub) should and can be found for the Riverside Inn. Therefore, Herefordshire CAMRA will be objecting to this proposal, for the reasons that it will reusly in the unnessesary loss of one of Ross’ landmark pubs - one that can trade again under new ownership.”

To read more about this, see next week’s edition of the Ross Gazette, out on Wednesday, March 16th.