Skerne resident Angus Naylor wants to re-open The Eagle as a pub with restauarant and bed and breakfast facilities.

But the scheme is on hold pending an appeal against the decision to grant Grade II listed building status to the building, which means it is now on a list of properties of special architectural or historic interest.

Listed buildings cannot be altered in any way without special planning consent and Mr Naylor says that unless the listed building decision is reversed he may be forced to sell it.

That means it will be de-licensed and will not be eligible to serve alcohol for the first time in 183 years.

The Eagle was granted listed building status after The Campaign For Real Ale approached English Heritage. Mr Naylor was not informed until the decision had been taken.
CAMRA claims it took action in a bid to preserve the unique nature of the pub and have objected to plans by Mr Naylor which they say: 'shows absolutely no respect for the historical room layout - it proposes that all internal walls should be removed.'

The pub has been closed since 2003 and is now almost derelict. The roof leaks, the walls are damp and the plaster is crumbling.

Mr Naylor bought the property last year and maintains that it is not commercially viable to re-open the pub with the original layout.

Skerne has a population of only a 100 or so residents - not enough to support the pub, which needs to become a destination venue which people seek out as a place to drink, eat or stay.

His plans have won the backing from Sue and Norman Harris, the daughter and son-in-law of the previous landlord, Roy Edmond.

Mrs Harris said the pub had not been viable for many years. "Right from day one, we have been behind Angus in what he wants to do because we would not like to see it closed."

Mr Harris said: "I think that CAMRA is being silly."
Mr Naylor said: "A travesty could happen here and unnecessarily so."

PICTURE: Angus Naylor with Sue and Norman Harris.