Lancashire's billionaire Issa brothers have lodged an application with a council to demolish a much-loved pub at the heart of a rural community and put a service station in its place.
As part of plans for the £200m Preston Western Distributor Road, the Blackburn brothers, who own and run the Euro Garages Group, have applied for planning permission from Preston City Council to build a petrol station, adjoining store and drive-thru coffee shop on the site of the Saddle Inn on Sidgreaves Lane in Lea.
If approved, the service station will facilitate motorists using the new multi-million pound bypass, due to open in 2022, which will link a new M55 juction with Blackpool Road in Lea.
The Saddle Inn was and continues to be a thriving rural pub, serving customers from the new neighbouring housing estates in Cottam, as well as locals from the farming community.
Despite a letter from Thwaites, who own the pub, stating wet sales have declined over the years, the brewery admit they have not taken into account the revenue accumulated from the sale of food, but believe there to be adequate alternative provisions within a 4km radius of the establishment.
The letter, to Preston City Council, from Thwaites, states: "Even at the peak of 186 barrels, this is a relatively low performing outlet in terms of wet sales.
"As the property has been food orientated, we do not have full details of the levels of income generated from this source.
"The fact there has been a significant decline in beer volumes from this peak suggests that the property has become less appealing and less used by the local community.
"Over the years various operators have tried to develop the food trade. However, the success of destination food houses is very much dependent upon a good quality offer with consistent service.
"From our records it appears that both the level of wet and dry sales have declined in recent years."
The letter concluded by saying reasonable efforts had been made to trade the pub profitably but it has not proved to be a viable business - citing the loss of part of the huge beer garden, popular with families, to Lancashire County Council for the construction of the link road, as one of the reasons.
The Saddle, which has been classed as a listed building by the council, has had around 10 tenants over the last decade, with Thwaites' using this as a reason why it has been more difficult to secure a letting, and stating the pub had not been supported by the local community enough to justify it remaining open.
In the application, lodged with Preston City Council last month, the proposals read: "The site is adjacent to a roundabout off the Preston Western Relief Route, which is currently under construction and will link to the M55.
"This is due to open in 2022 and will significantly change the area and infrastructure that surrounds the site.
"The current application for a new roadside services development relies upon this and has been designed accordingly to feed into the approved new infrastructure network.
"The roadside services will be operated by Euro Garages, an international leading forecourt operator.
"The uses aim at attracting passing trade from users of the strategic road network, including those travelling along the proposed M55 link road."
It is believed the current tenants of the pub, as well as locals and regular punters are not happy about the move.
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