Council to return to court in demolished pub battle

The Punch Bowl Inn was a Grade II-listed building before it was torn down without consent

A council is to return to court to fight for the future of a listed 18th Century pub that was demolished without consent by the owners, who have been ordered to rebuild the historical inn.

The grade II listed Punchbowl Inn near Hurst Green in Lancashire was bulldozed by Donelan Trading Ltd after the group ignored a Ribble Valley Borough Council decision in June 2021.

The council took the firm to the High Court last year, seeking an injunction requiring them to comply with a listed building enforcement notice and rebuild the pub to its original plan.

Donelan Trading Ltd, which has been contacted for comment, has missed several deadlines to find contractors for the rebuild.

Drone footage showed the remains of the pub after it was flattened

The latest missed deadline came on Tuesday, after the firm had been granted three more months in May to find a contractor for the rebuild.

The council will be able to go back to the court to ask them again to take action.

After the pub was demolished in 2021, five people were later fined more than £20,000 for their role in knocking it down.

The owners had argued that the building had become unsafe and was being targeted by arsonists.

Donelan Trading had submitted various plans for the site to the council before 2021 and although some were refused, a holiday lodge park was approved with conditions.

Ribble Valley Borough Council says its unable to comment at this stage due to legal proceedings, but it is not clear when the case will go back before the High Court.

The BBC has contacted Donelan Trading Ltd on multiple occasions for comment and has so far received no response.