The Crown Inn saved

A prized community asset in South Shropshire is due to be saved.

It was announced last month that Newcastle on Clun Parish Council has been awarded £269,892 for its local project, ‘Reclaiming The Crown Inn for the Community.’
 
Former MP Philip Dunne supported the initial application, after he was contacted by fellow residents, Peter Yeoward and Steve Burge. Stuart continued to assist the campaign, requesting regular updates on the application’s status from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
 
The 16th century Crown Inn closed in February 2023. Stuart said the successful bid reflects the power of local communities to reverse the decline in the closure of valued assets – including public houses in rural areas, after 400 of them shut their doors in 2024.
 
The funding is from the Community Ownership Fund (COF), which was launched by the last government in 2021 with £150 million to ensure communities can support and continue benefiting from the local facilities, community assets, and amenities that are most important to them.
 
Former MP Philip Dunne said: “I am delighted that all the hard work put in to make a comprehensive plan to reopen The Crown as a community asset has paid off with this successful grant award. South Shropshire has once again shown determined local communities like Newcastle-on-Clun can really pull together to save valued local pubs to put the heart back into the village.”