There have been two recent planning applications concerning the Horseshoe Inn. The first was in 2002 and the second more recently in 2005. In May 2005, the Forest of Dean District Council (FoDDC) issued an Enforcement Notice to the Tweedales as the FoDDC believed the Tweedales to be in breach of planning controls at the Horseshoe. The Tweedales have appealed and HIC has submitted its objections against the appeal.

See the Planning Inspectorate site about the appeal. This contains all the documents which have been submitted from all parties.

Click here to see how to show your support for the Horseshoe Inn by attending the public inquiry.

2002

Before a pub can be used as a private house, the owner has to be given planning consent for "change of use". This is subject to the planning process in a similar way to getting permission to build a new house (say).

When the Tweedales moved in to the Horseshoe Inn, one of the first things they did (in 2002) was to apply for "change of use". Local people were advised of this (as is normal) and were able to make comments about the application. The Planning Officers at the Forest of Dean District Council (FODDC) reviewed the application and the comments, and they made a recommendation to the Development Control and Licensing Committee of the FoDDC. You can read this here.

This Committee met on the 14 May 2002 at Coleford. You can see an extract of the minutes here. In short, the Committee rejected the application. The FoDDC is not in favour of losing local pubs.

The Tweedales could have appealed against the decision of the Committee, but they didn't do this.

2005

Then, in 2005, the Tweedales made another application to FoDDC; this time it was not for "change of use", but was for part-demolition of and an extension to the building to provide bed and breakfast accommodation. In fact, the plans were almost the same as those in 2002, so, not surprisingly, it was recommended to be turned down by the Officers of the District Council, hence the Tweedales withdrew their application prior to its going to the Planning Committee.

There was a lot of public opposition to this planning application. Over 150 people wrote to FoDDC to object. In particular, HIC opposed the application, as did CAMRA. There is more about the planning here.

enforcement

The Forest of Dean District Council (FoDDC) clearly believes that the use to which the Horseshoe Inn is being put is in breach of planning controls. In essence, the Horseshoe is a pub but is not being used as such. FoDDC want to see an end to the Tweedales' dog in the manger attitude; either they run a pub or sell to someone who will.

The text of the Enforcement Notice is here.

The result of the Public Inquiry is here.