A North Yorkshire parish council has failed in its bid to have a village pub — which has been closed for the last 15 years — listed as an asset of community value.
Officers from North Yorkshire Council have ruled that the Bay Horse Inn, in Terrington, near Malton, does not meet the criteria for inclusion on the list.
The pub, which according to the council is owned by Laidback Lucas Limited, has been closed since 2011.
Terrington Parish Council applied for inclusion on the list after the expiry of the pub’s inclusion on the community asset register by the former Ryedale District Council.
The parish council argued that the pub had been central to the community before its closure and was greatly missed by residents.
It said in its application: “(It was) the focal point for meetings, celebrations, family events, a stopping-off point for walkers, cyclists, indeed cycling clubs.
“It was a restaurant as much as a pub, lacking really only guest accommodation for which it still has planned scope.
“People would meet there, be it for a social drink, dinner, a business discussion or before venturing on.”
The council said local interest groups would meet at the pub, which also had a darts team and held regular themed dinners and quiz nights.
It added: “Although the Bay Horse is not currently operating as a pub/ restaurant, it is realistic, looking at the potential within the Howardian Hills National Landscape, that it could be brought back into thriving community use within five years.”
But council officers concluded that there was no evidence provided that the pub had furthered the social well-being or interests of the local community in the recent past.
Their report added: “The Bay Horse in Terrington has a historical presence in the village for a period of around 200 years, despite this (it) lacks sufficient evidence of historic and recent community use, or meaningful engagement to bring it back into operation.
“The limited response from the community since its closure over 14 years ago, notwithstanding the fact that the property has not been
offered for sale, suggests the element of the criteria relating to the recent past is not met.”
Officers said there was also no evidence the pub could be brought back into use that furthered the social well-being or interests of the local community within the next five years.
The listing would have meant the community could be involved if the pub was put up for sale and would get the first chance to make an offer.
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