Postive signs at The Crook

Kate Smail • Published 27 Aug 2010 09:30 1 Comment

A long-running campaign to save Tweeddale’s oldest pub has moved a step closer to success.

The historic Crook Inn in Tweedsmuir has lain empty for four years, and local residents have long fought to stop the present owner converting the building into flats.

And now campaign group Tweedsmuir Community Company (TCC) say negotiations taking place between themselves and developer James Doonan are looking very positive.

The TCC, set up by villagers opposed to Mr Doonan’s plans for the listed building, hope to buy the Inn and some of the surrounding land to turn it back into a pub.

Andrew Mason, Vice-Chairman of the TCC, told the Peeblesshire News: “Although all the signs are positive, this is by no means a done deal.

“However, we are delighted that Mr Doonan is talking to us and it seems progress is being made. Everyone in the community is excited at the development and are keen to put what’s happened in the past to one side and move forward.”

But even if Mr Doonan decides to sell the bar to the TCC, they still have to find a way to raise the funds.

Mr Mason said: “We are under no illusions about the amount of money we have to raise - we know that it’s a mammoth task. We would hope that we could raise enough cash in six months to buy the building. At least that way we could prevent any further deterioration to its condition - its been lying empty since 2006 so needs a lot of work.

“We’ve started fundraising already, and have planned a big music festival to raise cash and awareness of the issue on September 11.”

The TCC hope to buy not only the building itself, but also the car park and the inn’s old garden which lies on the other side of the road.

However, Mr Doonan’s plan to build houses on adjacent land may throw a spanner in the works as drains and the associated infrastructure would likely impinge on the Inn’s land.

Mr Mason said the future of the bar, which was a favourite haunt for the likes of Sir Walter Scott and Robert Burns, is important to the future of the local community.

“A place like the Crook Inn forms the heart of a village, it’s the only place locals can get together and socialise, and that’s been taken away from us for a long time now.

“Since the Crook closed I’ve seen a real change in Tweedsmuir - you no longer bump into your neighbours the way you used to. Also, when new people move to the village you don’t tend to meet them.

“Without a social hub like the inn you not only lose the spontaneity of community life, but you also risk turning Tweedsmuir into a commuter town.

“We know there is a long road ahead of us, but the whole community is thrilled at the progress being made to save the Crook Inn.”

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 27 Aug 10

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  jannoble
  2 posts
  Oct 1, 11:40
  Report comment

  I don't see any progress - no money to meet the £500K + demands of the owner, most of the site already with planning permission to demolish and build a small housing estate and the time is all but numbered on the deteriorating building and the lack of business acumen of the committee responsible for bringing the Crook back to the community - including failing to see the bigger picture when withdrawing their planning permission only for the owner to stitch them up yet again and tyring to get the Lottery money to bail him out of his predicament, and of course be turned down and the TCC are apparently more concerned for his business dignity than actucally doing what is right and proper ... 'death by committee meeting' means all the hunches of what could have been done to save the Crook has turned the committee into 'yes' people with no real purpose other than pursuit of their own agendas introducing floral and art gardens - it's just a pub at the end of the day - people just want to go there, meet friends, have a yarn and have a nice wee drink. Let's not kid ourselves by trying to turn it into a community 'white elephant' just because that is what will attract funding because the Lottery said no to an inflated bid in an attempt to pay extortinate prices to get it back ...
  
  I think the Crook is no more, long live the Crook.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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