MP calls for more to be done 'to stop another Crooked House'

The fire is being treated as arson

Ministers are being urged to do more to protect historic pubs following the destruction of the Crooked House.

The 18th Century pub in Dudley was demolished shortly after a fire tore through the building, which is being treated as arson.

Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, Dudley North MP Marco Longhi said he wanted every council to have a register of heritage pubs.

Communities Minister Simon Hoare said the government stood ready to help.

Raising the issue in a Westminster Hall debate, Mr Longhi said: "The demise of the Crooked House pub, while tragic in and of itself, has highlighted a much bigger issue nationwide.

"Put simply, the framework we have in place to protect our heritage pubs is simply not winning the war against unscrupulous developers or even against our changing socio-economic environment," the Dudley MP said.

"Meaning, that many establishments that once may have been profitable and may not be profitable today."

Marco Longhi wants the Crooked House law to stop other pubs having the same fate

Mr Longhi called for councils to be required to keep a register of all heritage pubs in their area, and review it once a year to keep abreast of developments.

The Tory MP also pointed to planning protections used in Wales, which allow for heritage pubs to receive temporary protections usually granted to listed buildings once an application for listing is made.

He also said he wanted to see a 12-month restriction placed on the sale of heritage pubs if a landlord decided to quit, in order to find a buyer interested in running it as a pub.

Communities Minister Simon Hoare, meanwhile, described the Crooked House fire as a "huge loss, a serious loss".

He added: "We stand ready to help [Mr Longhi] and other communities to ensure that such important community assets have the strongest protections we can possibly derive."

The building was reduced to rubble on 7 August

Once known as "Britain's wonkiest pub", the 18th Century inn in Himley was known for its sloping walls and floor caused by mining subsidence.

The pub was sold by brewers Marston's to ATE Farms Limited in July, just weeks before the blaze and demolition.

South Staffordshire Council has said it had not agreed to the total destruction of the pub and was investigating whether it was unlawful.

A Staffordshire Police investigation into the circumstances around the fire continues.

Five people have been arrested in connection with investigations into the events of August.