A VILLAGE pub which is allegedly being used as a car dealership could be ‘saved’ by the residents.

The Crown Radnage closed in January much to the disappointment of nearby villagers.

It was sold by previous owner Steven Smith to new owner Caleb Wenman in February, after the City Road boozer attracted "extremely high levels of interest with 17 viewings on the opening date alone".

But the pub hasn't reopened and remains closed to the public according to residents.

In order for the pub to serve as a watering hole, the community is hoping the council will reconsider its Asset of Community Value status.

ALSO READ: 'Such a shame': Villagers 'angry' as pub 'turns into Mercedes car dealership'

CAMRA's real ale for campaign explained when a pub comes up for sale as a development opportunity, the community will be notified and given the first opportunity to bid to buy the pub, if it has ACV status.

The ACV for The Crown in Radnage expired in 2020 and the community applied for a new one on May 3, 2023.

CAMRA said they have raised concerns to Buckinghamshire Council about pubs having their ACV's expire, claiming more than 100 pubs in Bucks were left unprotected.

A CAMRA spokesman said: "The local planning system treats pubs as a unique type of business, reflecting their importance to the community. Change of use is only permitted if the local planning authority grants permission after a planning application is made.

"Had the Crown remained on Buckinghamshire Council's Asset of Community Value (ACV) register then the local community would have had a statutory right to make a bid to buy the pub when it was last put on the market.

"Before 2020, well over a hundred pubs in the local area had this protection but the vast majority were delisted by Buckinghamshire Council over the lockdown period.

"Many local community groups and parish councils have had their applications to reinstate ACV protections for local pubs rejected by the council and only a few have succeeded.

"CAMRA has raised its concerns about this situation at both local and national level with the council and councillors as well as with local MPs."

The council rejected this claim and said The Crown in Radnage was never delisted, the ACV was simply valid for a period of five years.

Arif Hussain, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities said: “We would like to stress, The Crown in Radnage has not been delisted by Buckinghamshire Council. Assets of Community Value (ACV)s are only valid for a period of five years, after which time they expire and a new nomination must be made to reconsider the ACV status.

"The Crown was listed as an ACV from July 2015 until the listing expired in July 2020. The asset has just been re-nominated as an ACV in May 2023.

"This nomination is now going through the appropriate process and a decision will be made no later than 27 June.

“Buckinghamshire Council is keen to support valued and popular community assets wherever possible, however there is set criteria that an asset must meet in order to be listed as an ACV.

"This criteria is laid down in legislation that is set by central government. Appropriate evidence must be supplied to the council to support any listing.

"Should any of the criteria not be met an asset would not be listed.”