Anger over 'asset stripping' of Cornish pub

Plans to alter part of the Old Ferry Inn into a house has angered locals

Plans to change the historic The Old Ferry Inn in Bodinnick has led to a surge of opposition with 200 objectors.

The Inn, which is next door to the Daphne du Maurier family home, already has permission to turn part of it into a residence.

Now the landlord wants to turn another part of the Inn to residential, while maintaining a smaller pub at the back.

The owner Paul Worswick said: "Sadly you can't expect your local, small village pub to remain open whilst you spend no money in it."

Alaister Shackerley said the owner was removing the heart of the community

Alaister Shackerley, whose family have lived in Bodinnick for generations, is angry at the plans.

"The Old Ferry Inn is the cornerstone of the community, it's an asset to the community," he said.

"Ultimately the proposal is to strip away the best bits of the pub, so the views (across the Fowey Estuary) are going to be gone, the terrace area outside that's going to be taken away," said Mr Shackerley.

Royce Smith ran The Old Ferry Inn for more than 17 years and said it was a successful business open 356 days a year.

"Two thirds of the Inn are wanting to be sold off as residential accommodation," he said.

"Having run the Inn for all those years, I think that what will be left, it will not be a viable proposition anymore. It will eventually fold and the local community will be left with no pub," said Mr Smith.

Alison Fogg said you do not "asset strip" an historical building

Alison Fogg is passionate about the historic significance of The Old Ferry Inn.

"It dates back to the Saint's Way. The south coast was an ancient route where the Celtic trading went on, we traded by sea," she said.

"The maritime history of The Old Ferry Inn, next to the (Bodinnick) Ferry is remarkable," said Ms Fogg.

"People take photographs of Ferry Inn from all over the world so it is used to sell Cornwall, so you don't asset strip that and throw that away," she said.

The owner Paul Worswick said this was not an application to close the pub.

"Of the nearly 200 or so objections received to date, maybe 20 people have come in the pub more than once a month over the last 12 months and whilst I greatly appreciate their support it's just not enough to sustain a business trying to survive ridiculous cost increases from energy, food, wage and other cost hikes," he said.

"I understand the core supporters of the pub being concerned about the future of the pub, however, it's hard to understand the other 180 objectors who do not support or spend any money in the pub."