Heritage Bill Introduced by MP Receives Support from Crooked House Advocate

An advocate for the reconstruction of The Crooked House pub has expressed approval for a parliamentary bill introduced by an MP, which aims to establish stronger safeguards, following the discovery of illegally discarded waste at the location. This 18th-century establishment, situated in Himley, close to Dudley, was widely recognized as the United Kingdom’s “wonkiest” public house. However, it was torn down in August 2023, just days after a fire extensively damaged its interior. The Heritage Public Houses bill, put forward by Kingswinford and South Staffordshire MP Mike Wood, incorporates proposals akin to those previously advanced by his former Conservative party colleague, Marco Longhi. Amanda Inkersole, who was employed at the pub for a decade, stated: “It’s great to know that somebody has taken over [Marco’s] mantle.” Mr. Wood, who introduced his private member’s bill on 21 October, commented: “This is about… making sure this stays on the agenda and actually getting the protection that these important heritage pubs really need.” The proposed legislation would mandate local authorities to compile and maintain a registry of heritage pubs within their respective jurisdictions and impose limitations on their disposal. Mr. Wood explained that the bill “[would] make sure that firstly, when pubs are being sold, a heritage pub, that the pub trade gets the first refusal so where possible they stay open as pubs.” He also noted that it would allow, “[And] if that’s in doubt, to give time for the community to step in to see if the community can buy it.” The Member of Parliament indicated that the legislation would additionally grant immediate temporary safeguarding to structures under consideration for listed building status. Its second reading is scheduled for 7 March. A public investigation aimed at determining if the proprietors of The Crooked House are obligated to reconstruct it has been rescheduled to spring 2025. Concurrently, Ms. Inkersole, a resident of Gornal, reported that “disgusting” illegal dumping on the access route to the former pub prevented her from reaching the site on Sunday. She stated: “I sporadically go down and check the site,” adding, “I couldn’t get past that mound of rubbish because it was just disgusting”.” She mentioned that the lane had historically been a location for illegal waste disposal, but the piles of black bags overflowing with rubbish and abandoned bed components were “particularly bad.” After sharing images with fellow campaigners on Facebook, she wrote: “Can’t wait for the appeal next year to finally get something done.” She further noted that her mother, brother, and niece had all been employed at the establishment, signifying that it held “a lot of memories for us as a family.” South Staffordshire Council confirmed that the illegal dumping occurred on private property and indicated that it was in communication with the landowner to urge its removal. Five men and one woman who were apprehended on suspicion of arson were released from bail in July; however, they continue to be subjects of an ongoing investigation as inquiries proceed. For updates, follow BBC Birmingham across BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.