Campaigners have called for planning laws to be changed to protect historic pubs, following the destruction of the UK’s wonkiest pub, the Crooked House in Dudley, West Midlands.
Greg Mulholland, the director of Campaign for Pubs, said the growing anger over the fire and demolition of the Crooked House must act as a “catalyst for change” in the approach to protecting historic pubs.
The Crooked House was burned down in a fire nine days after being sold by the brewer Marston’s. It was one of 61 pubs the company put on the market earlier this year.
The call for more protection comes as AT Contracting – a firm owned by Carly Taylor who bought the pub – was found to have rented a digger a week before the property was destroyed by fire.
The fire is being treated as arson by the police. Taylor and her husband, Adam, have not been identified as suspects.
The couple has also been accused of “wilfully dangerous” and destructive behaviour at two other rural sites they are seeking to develop in Lutterworth, Leicestershire.
West Midland mayor Andy Street this week called for the pub to be rebuilt “brick by brick”.
