A LOCAL historian is calling for people to object to plans to demolish an almost 200-year-old Stacksteads pub to make way for houses.

The Hare and Hounds, in Newchurch Road, has been called a ‘massive part of our heritage’ by Bacup Natural History Society member Wendy Lord.

Joint administrators Calco Pubs Limited, Zolfo Cooper, have submitted a planning application to demolish the pub, which began trading in 1816, and build four three-bedroom homes in its place.

But author and historian Ms Lord said the Hare and Hounds should be kept as a community pub.

She said: “It’s been there for donkey’s years and it’s a massive part of our heritage.

“In the planning application, it says there are many pubs in the vicinity, but it is actually the only one left.

“If you were to walk from the Hare and Hounds to Waterfoot, there are no pubs on that road.

“Then from Bacup to Waterfoot, the only pub is the Rose 'n' Bowl, which is more of a restaurant than a traditional pub, and then there’s the Conservative Club, which is members only.

“It’s ridiculous. When these pubs have gone, they’re gone for good. On the road, there used to be the Grocer’s Inn, which opened in 1851 and closed in 1920, and also the Bee Hive, but they have both gone now.”

In a planning statement to Rossendale Council, the administrators cited the failure of the pub to ‘operate a profitable business’.

Ms Lord said: “It’s not a viable business because it’s been allowed to fall into a state of disrepair, and it doesn’t encourage people to come in for a drink.

“The way to fix this would be to spend a bit of money on it, refurbish it, clear up the car park outside, which doesn’t look very attractive, and maybe even offer some light food. Bulldozing this piece of our history is not the answer.”