Marlow pubs such as Clayton's, the Duke of Cambridge and Oarsman could lose their development protection rights

The Duke of Cambridge on Queens Road, Clayton’s on the Oxford Road, the Oarsman on Spittal Street, the Royal British Legion Club on Station Approach and the Prince of Wales on Mill Road are the pubs in question, as their ACVs (Assets of Community Value), are on the verge of lapsing.

An ACV is a building or another piece of land which has an asset of community value, if its main use has recently been or is currently used to further the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community and could do so in the future.

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The Localism Act states that ‘social interests’ include cultural, recreational and sporting interests.

However, all the pub’s ACVs expire this year and it is not known whether they’ll be renewed.

The Duke of Cambridge

Clayton's Marlow

The Oarsman

The anonymous gentleman, who supplied the information to the Bucks Free Press said: “It is highly unlikely that any regulars in these pubs know anything about this.

“This simply means that any future development of any of these pubs into housing is restricted with 'permitted development' rights removed, and the freeholder has to give notice to WDC (Wycombe District Council) if they intend to sell.

“It crucially means that the community has a right in law to bid to buy the property to keep it as an ACV.

“And I have no idea what WDC’s policy is, or that of the Town Council, but guess regulars will have a view.

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“Also, other pubs that could be affected are the Queens Head and the Crooked Billet in Little Marlow, along with the Three Horseshoes in Marlow Bottom.”

Each pub received their ACVs in 2015.

The Duke of Cambridge was granted their application on June 30, 2015, Clayton’s received theirs on August 25, 2015, the Oarsman got theirs on September 8, 2015, Royal British Legion Club received their ACV on October 20, 2015, whilst the Prince of Wales got theirs on November, 9, 2015.

All ACVs will expire on the fifth anniversary of when they granted, excluding the Royal British Legion’s ACV, as theirs lapse on October 21 this year.

The gentleman added: “Marlow has lost the following pubs to housing in the past few years before the law changed.

The Royal British Legion

The Prince of Wales

“The town cannot afford to lose any more pubs.

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“The Crown & Anchor, the Plough, the Bank of England, the Hare & Hounds - all housing now.”

“The wards affected cover those of ten of the twelve Marlow Town Councillors, with RBL, Prince of Wales and the Oarsman in the Marlow South West Ward and Claytons and The Duke of Cambridge in the Marlow North & West Ward.”

“No-one wants a pub to close in their ward.”

Wycombe District Council responded by saying: "An Asset of Community Value (ACV) listing does not renew automatically.

"When the listing is due to expire, the legislation allows for an ACV to be re-nominated.

"If a community/member of the community wishes to re-nominate, we recommend that a new nomination is submitted about eight weeks prior to the listings expiry date.

"In order to do this, the nominee simply needs to complete the nomination form that can be found on the council web site or via this link: https://www.wycombe.gov.uk/pages/Community/Community-rights-and-localism/Community-Right-to-Bid.aspx.