A CAMPAIGN has been launched to save the historic Hermit pub in Burley Woodhead.

A planning application to convert the 400-year-old pub into residential accommodation is currently out to public consultation and a decision is expected by Bradford Council in April.

Efforts are now underway to set up an association in the village which will seek to register the pub as a community asset with Bradford Council and oppose the planning application.

Regulars down the years have included TV presenter Richard Whiteley and Alfred Brown, one of the most widely read writers of books about walking in Yorkshire. The Hermit’s name derives from an 18th century man who lived in a hut on the moor, from where he serenaded locals.

The campaign to Save the Hermit has won all party backing from local Shipley MP Philip Davies (Conservative) as well as Burley-in-Wharfedale resident and former Keighley MP John Grogan (Labour) and former MP for Leeds North West Greg Mulholland (Liberal Democrat) who is now the Campaign Director of the Campaign For Pubs.

Burley Woodhead Resident Nick Hooper said: “On my daily walks around the hamlet I meet many Woodhead people who express their sadness at the plans to convert The Hermit to housing.

"The strength of feeling in the area is sufficient to start a campaign to nominate The Hermit as an Asset of Community Value and try to save it as a pub.”

Colin Speakman, author and walking enthusiast who lives in Burley-in-Wharfedale said: “The Hermit is a popular and much-loved ramblers’ inn, part of our local heritage, used by walkers over many generations after enjoying local footpaths or hiking over Burley Moor. Its loss would be tragic.

"It is also a reason for people to come to the area, stay longer and spend money. This proposal will, therefore, affect the wider local economy.”

Peter Down, Acting Chair of Bradford CAMRA said: “The plans to convert the Hermit into expensive residential properties is another example of an attempt to convert a pub due to its development value, which ignores the value of the Great British pub to its community. There are numerous examples of pubs being disposed of by large pub companies to help service their own debts and then being bought as development opportunities. The case of the Sun Inn at Cottingley is a recent example within the Bradford District. The Bradford Branch of CAMRA strongly opposes the plans to permanently close the Hermit Inn and convert it to residential use. The pub should be saved to continue to serve an important community function to the residents of Burley Woodhead and others who visit.”

Local Shipley MP Philip Davies said: “The Hermit is the only hub in Burley Woodhead and is an extremely important community asset. It is really important that the pub is retained and not lost forever which is why I have also submitted a formal objection to the application”.

Former Keighley and Ilkley Labour MP and Burley in Wharfedale resident John Grogan said: “I hope planning officers and councillors will insist that before they determine this application that the pub is put back on the market by a specialist agent with a realistic valuation agreed with the independent valuation office. When the Hermit was for sale in 2017 the then vendors were offering the leasehold at £140000 with the business taking £7000 to £8000 per week split 30/70 between drinks and food. Many pubs previously written off by their owners are now thriving enterprises. Sadly, around the country in the midst of the coronavirus crisis speculative planning applications are being put forward to convert pubs into housing at a time when it is difficult to organise alternative proposals.”

The application is being made by Mrs Gillian Kelly who is the most recent licence holder of the pub, although The Save the Hermit campaigners say the Land Registry indicates that as of February 2021 the freehold was still in the hands of Jersey based hedge fund backed Tavern Propco Limited.

The closing dates for comments on the application is March 23. Comments can be made online on the Bradford Council planning applications portal using the reference 21/00523/