Stockton pub offered protection as community asset

By Local Democracy Reporter Peter Davison

The Carriers Arms in the Warminster village of Stockton is the latest pub in the county to be offered protection under the Community Asset scheme.

Villagers applied to Wiltshire Council in April, asking that the pub be listed as an Asset of Community Value.

The listing means local people have a better chance of buying the pub if the current owners decide to sell.

Villagers say that the pub – which is the only community space in the village after the closure of the village hall, school, and youth club – is often closed.

In April, say the applicants, the pub was closed for an 11-day stretch and that pass times including darts competitions and quiz nights had been discontinued.

In response to the application, the owners – Foster Hawker Jones Ltd – said they were under no obligation to ensure the continuation of pass times like darts and quizzes, or indeed to open during periods of staff holiday.

They denied any plans to sell the pub in the immediate future, but added, “Being sorely aware of how precarious the hospitality industry is, we are delighted to discover that there is a local community group who would be interested in purchasing the pub when the time does come to market it, and (we) very much look forward to potentially mutually beneficial conversations with them.”

Granting the application, Wiltshire Council said, “The Carriers Arms is the last asset of community value left in the village and represents a focal point for social interaction for the village community.

“The loss of such an asset would be detrimental to the village community.”

By Local Democracy Reporter Peter Davison