Over the past few years, the Hebweb has documented the closure of several of our best local pubs - the Mount Skip, the top Shoulder of Mutton, the Nutclough and now it seems we might lose the New Delight in Blackshaw Head.

Above: after the Kart Race at the New Delight

The owners of the New Delight in Colden closed the pub on June 12th and declared that they would seek planning permission to turn it into a private residence.

But a campaign group has formed in response to the threat, determined not lose a vital community resource. The group came together soon after the New Delight was closed, and sought the support of Blackshaw Parish Council to oppose any permission for change of use from pub to private house. The Council agreed to give support, and offered advice based on the experience they have gained over the recent closure of the Top Shoulder at Blackshaw Head. The campaign group wants to see the pub advertised for sale at a realistic price, so that it can open its doors again to the community as soon as possible.

The campaign group issued the following statement: "There are lots of reasons why the owners couldn’t make a go of it — but this pub has made a profit before, and it will do again. We are not going to stand by while the social centre of our small community is taken from us. The Duck Race down the river, the Kart Race down the hill, the bonfire in the field, carol-singing, PTA meetings, live bands — all these events depend on that particular pub. We call on everybody who has ever enjoyed a pint or a meal in the New Delight to join us and support our campaign."

In their appeal to the Parish Council, the group described the closure of the New Delight as a ‘business plan’, following the same strategy as the sale of the Top Shoulder. "As everyone knows, the building is worth considerably more as a private residence than a public house — this is a rape of the community’s natural assets".

The group is newly-formed, and as yet unnamed, but it already has a plan of action to challenge the closure. Publicity is seen as vital, and posters and leaflets are now in the pipeline. The slogan: No Newdy, No Delight — Save Our Pub! will soon be appearing all over town. Watch this space…….

Above: outside the pub

Many thanks to Cynthia Gault for sending us this news and photos.

Debate this and other issues on the Hebweb Forum

The current situation is that the larger part of the "Top Shoulder" has permission for Change of Use to Residential purposes. However the restaurant area has been excluded from this permission and must be retained as a "Bar/Community room".

This scheme was put forward by the current owners and was approved by Calderdale MBC in June last year. Previously planners had refused an application for Change of Use of the whole property. This was because the Planning Committee, confirmed subsequently at an appeal by a Planning Inspector, recognised the importance of the amenity value of the Shoulder of Mutton to the community of Blackshaw Head village.

Calderdale planners have also given outline approval for a pair of semi-detached houses on part of the pub’s car park. However, at the same time they also placed a legal condition on this permission such that no construction work can commence until the Bar/Community room is available for use.

Earlier this year, outline plans were approved for demolition of the pub’s kitchen area and its replacement with a detached house. Most recently, planners have refused a further application for Change of Use for the restaurant area. Clearly this would have had the effect of getting rid of the Bar/Community room/amenity requirement

Blackshaw Parish Council has consistently held the view that the Shoulder of Mutton is a vital amenity at the village centre, being the only community resource other than the Methodist Chapel. The council would very much prefer to see the whole pub re-open, thereby restoring important facilities including the restaurant, separate bar areas and the bed and breakfast accommodation. Potential exists for additional facilities such as a childrens’ play area, seminar/function facilities and "telecottaging/cyber cafe" facilities and we would support such moves.

The council is still aware of private parties interested in the possibility of acquiring the whole premises as a business. Recently there has also been some interest expressed within the community in the possibility of setting up a consortium. Clearly any purchase on this basis would only be feasible at a price based on its value as a pub business. To the best of the council’s knowledge the premises have only been offered for sale as a potential dwelling house and at a price which would be unlikely to attract anyone interested in running a business venture. Enquiries have so far failed to clearly establish whether the restaurant area is included in what has been placed on the market or whether any attempt whatsoever has been made to place this section of the premises on the market as a separate entity.

As far as the council is aware, no work has yet begun to convert the restaurant area to the previously mentioned Bar/Community room in line with the currently approved plans. Blackshaw Parish Council feels that this room is inadequate for providing the village with the community amenities it requires. At best the plans could offer little more than a licensed café, providing perhaps microwaved food, alcohol and coffee for the benefit of locals and visitors such as walkers passing through the village. Nevertheless, the Parish Council has indicated that if this reduced facility were to be created and made available for use, then, should no other parties come forward wishing to take this on board, and, assuming a reasonable rent could be agreed, the council would themselves endeavour get the business started, probably using some voluntary labour and bearing any initial losses as necessary.

At this time Blackshaw Parish Council has information to suggest that the owners may becoming more interested in a sale of some or all of the property. We are seeking clarification of exactly what may be on offer and in anticipation of this being more positive we would urge anyone interested in becoming involved financially or otherwise in a project to get some form of amenity back up and running in our village to get in touch with either the council or, if appropriate, directly with the property agents, messrs. Reed Rains in Hebden Bridge.

Yesterday evening, Calderdale councillors granted permission for the conversion of the popular Nutclough pub into housing. This was in spite of the opposition to the plans by Hebden Royd Council who argued that its loss would cause damage to the tourist industry, and that the landlord had not effectively marketed the pub. The pub will be converted into two houses.

Several pubs have closed in the area in the past few years and the neighbouring Nutclough Tavern has been closed now for six months. So far these have been mainly pubs outside Hebden Bridge centre - the Mount Skip, top Shoulder of Mutton and The Woodman.

If you have views about this proposed closure, make use of the Hebweb Discussion Forum.

The appeal is to be decided by written statements which Cllr Brown said must be received by the Planning Inspectorate by 26th November. Comments should be sent to:

The Planning Inspectorate
Room 1013
Tollgate House
Houlton Street
Bristol BS2 (DJ

quoting reference APP/A4710/A/99/103 452

Although it is likely not to be possible for a community voice to be heard on behalf of objectors to the proposal to turn the Mount Skip Inn into two houses, it is important for as many people as possible to attend the Planning Committee meeting on Tuesday 28 September 1999 (from about 6.30pm) to illustrate the depth and extent of concern on the part of those hundreds of people who voice objection to the application.

Research has shown that the Mount Skip Inn is probably the only surviving inn in West Yorkshire to have served as a meeting place for the radical movement of the early 19th century.

In the late 1830s and 1840s the Skip was the headquarters and meeting place for a branch of the National Charter Association (see Dorothy Thompson, The Chartists, London 1984 p358). Known as the Mount Skipton Chartist Association with a membership of local handloom weavers their proceedings were reported intermittently in the Chartist newspaper the Northern Star. The Mount Skip is believed to be the only pub in the country to have given its name to a Chartist group!

The building was, in 1792, of three livings. One being the Mount Skip Inn - a drovers' inn on the ancient packhorse route from Lancashire into Yorkshire. Next door was a smithy that would provide for the drovers' horses, while the third living was a dwelling house.

On 11 May 1839 the Northern Star reported:

"WADSWORTH. - Messrs B Rushton and R Sutcliffe addressed a numerous auditory at Mount Skip, in Wadsworth, near Halifax, on Monday evening last, on the National Petition and People's Charter, and was most cordially received. Resolutions were passed, expressive of confidence in the General Convention, and their determination to aid in carrying out the objects contained in the Charter, in whatever way might be thought to be advisable by the Convention."

It seems clear that the Mount Skip Inn has, until its recent closure, fulfilled a continuous role in serving the local community as a hostelry and meeting place for well over 200 years. It would constitute a severe detriment and loss to the local community were it to be precluded from continuing that role while, additionally, it has held and could continue so to hold, an important constituent part in local tourism provision.

Wednesday, August 18, 1999

Plans by its new owner, Andrew Marshall to turn the Mount Skip pub into residential accommodation have been rejected by Calderdale's planning committee. However, it may be some time before the building re-opens as a pub, and the planning committe's decision is due to be reconsidered by the Council next month

From Derek Loney, March 1999 The Skip closed on Tuesday 2 March, due it was said, to ill-health.

On Monday 8 March builders started to wall up the approaches to the entrance. Not only is this without planning permission but it is likely to be contrary to the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 which sets out what action service providers must take in relation to the provision of facilities.

That week the pub signs were taken down, and the car park gated and locked.
In February while the pub was still functioning a party booking for 13 dinners on Mothers’ Day, 14 March, was refused as "we won’t be doing meals then".

On Thursday 18 March the Hebden Bridge Times states it was told that day "You can’t go and print that we are closing because we might reopen again as a pub. We have not decided what to do."

On Thursday 18 March a Planning Notice was erected and announces that application had been made to the Planning Authority for permission to change the use of the premises to living accommodation.

If you have enjoyed the excellent food and beer offered by the Mount Skip over years past and, indeed, during the last three or four months this will become nothing but a fond memory unless you do something about it.

The Mount Skip has been an important community facility serving the hill-side. Various groups have met there over the years: amongst others the Pigeon Club, musicians’ practice/rehearsal group, the local branch of the Bridleways Association, and the Mast Action Group as well as more informal groups of families. Other activities in the quite recent past have included the gun club and the local fell-runners’ group. Other local pubs don’t have the space for such meetings. The locality simply cannot accept the loss of such an important community resource.

Groups of walkers use the Skip as a starting or stopping-off point; very many families make a point of bringing their visitors from the deep south and other foreign climes to the Skip for the spectacular views and excellent beer.

With no pub in Midgley village there is nothing between the Lord Nelson at Luddenden and the Hare & Hounds at Old Town while there is now substantial new housing development at Old Town with further houses under construction adjacent to Saughes near the top of Wadsworth Lanes.

Please support your local pub and help it to have a future by writing a letter of objection to it being turned into houses.

Objectors should write to the Director of Environmental Services, Environmental Services Dept, Northgate House, Halifax HX1 1UN quoting the reference 99/00328/CON. Objections must be delivered before Friday 9 April 1999.

The latest indication is that, while the planning application is not being withdrawn at present in order to "keep options open", the pub is being marketed to potential buyers interested to develop a business with tremendous potential. The pub constitutes a facility important to the local community on the adjacent hillsides and attracts many from far afield - walkers and tourists alike. The beer has been excellent, the food has been gaining a growing reputation, the premises are of a reasonable size and flexible while there is good car-parking. The position could scarcely be bettered.

Anyone with the enthusiasm to build on this could do worse than to contact the present owners with a view to possible purchase.

Derek Loney