New lease of life for 'dumping ground' pub

A group of volunteers has pledged to clean up pub was once seen as "important to local people"

An abandoned pub could get a new lease of life after volunteers pledged to tidy up the area around it which has been described as a "dumping ground".

The Cherry Tree in Woodston, Peterborough, closed in 2016 and has since become a hub for rubbish and graffiti.

Peterborough Litter Wombles pledged to work with the city council to tidy it up.

Labour's group leader Dennis Jones said the site had become "not only derelict, but a dumping ground".

Since closing in 2016, The Cherry Tree in Woodston, Peterborough has become covered in graffiti

The pub was once a "landmark" and "important to local people" according to Alan Dowson, who represents the Fletton and Woodston ward.

Mr Dowson said the pub fell in a "state of disrepair" when it closed.

“To see it closed after all those years is sad, but more sad than that is that people in the area have seen it neglected,” Mr Dowson added.

The Cherry Tree pub is currently owned by Allerton Developments, which bought it from Milton Estates in 2020, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

In November 2022, Allerton was granted permission to partially demolish the pub as part of a wider development which would see 67 new flats built off Oundle Road.

Work has not started yet, despite planning permission expiring in three years' time.

Anthony Jenkins, director of developments at Allerton, said the company was still looking "at options” for The Cherry Tree.

He said: “We have been and continue to look at reducing potential anti-social behaviour.

“The site is important to the local area, and we continue to look at options to redevelop the site and ensure it provides a suitable use for the future and surrounding community.”