The residents in a Bucks village have pledged to continue their fight to save an iconic pub.
The residents of Ley Hill in the Chesham countryside have been battling to keep The Swan pub going since it first came under threat from developers in 2018.
The 500-year-old pub on Blackwell Hall Lane is listed as an asset of community value and Buckinghamshire Council has refused previous planning applications because of its historical and community importance.
In the most recent turn of events, the appeal to turn the pub into a dwelling house with parking was thrown out by the council.
Now the campaigners behind the Save Our Swan group have pledged their commitment to bring the pub back to life.
A spokesperson for Save Our Swan said: “Our aim is to keep it as a pub whether we buy it as a community or someone else buys it and runs it as a pub.
“239 people have already pledged funds so we could buy it up as a community pub. We’ve got a business plan, we’ve got someone could run it.
“The village has got a phenomenal atmosphere, we do loads and loads of activities.
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“Everybody feels The Swan has been an ale house for 500 years and the last thing we want to do is to lose it as a community asset.”
To date, the supporters have donated around £400,000 towards buying of the pub, including a single £10,000 donation.
Another supporter has got a personal loan agreed towards the costs, the spokesperson said.
“People are prepared to loan the difference.
“It’s such a lovely setting, we’re not giving up.
“The appeal decision said it’s not unusual to have two pubs, to give people options, and 2 pubs worked successfully together. The Swan was a destination pub and there’s a massive amount of support,” they added.
In its decision to refuse the application for change of use into a dwelling house, Buckinghamshire Council said: "The main issues are whether the proposed development would result in the unacceptable loss of a community facility, and whether it would preserve the special architectural and historic interest of the listed building and its setting.
Strong objections from the Parish Council and residents suggested the pub is "highly valued as a community facility," the appeal decision noted.
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