Former pub's future to be decided by government

The future of a former village pub will be decided by the government after a council refused permission for it to become a bar, restaurant and workspace.

Applicant Arya Samadi has appealed against the decision by Durham County Council for his plans for the former Dog and Gunn Inn at Bearpark, saying it was "flawed on multiple grounds".

The council says the building is still "a valued community asset".

A decision will now be made by the planning inspectorate, which handles appeals against planning permission, later this year.

The pub, renamed Auton Lodge, closed in March 2021 and now houses a cake-making business.

In refusing Mr Samadi's application, the council said: "The loss of such a community facility would be significantly harmful to the quality of life of the local community."

It added that the application failed to provide "sufficiently accurate" plans.

The village has already seen the closure of its community centre and Labour councillor Marion Wilson, who objected to the proposal for the former pub, said: "The reduction of another facility is devastating to the village."

But Mr Samadi, in a statement submitted as part of the appeal, said: "We have clearly shown that the former public house was not viable and we have also offered to provide further evidence.

"Concerns relating to drawings, parking and access could have easily been remedied if deemed necessary, had engagement been sought."

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