Mottingham residents turned out in force to oppose supermarket chain Lidl’s plans to knock down their beloved Porcupine Pub at a public inquiry this week.
An appeal Lidl lodged in April, after Bromley Council rejected its plans to turn the pub into a supermarket was heard at the Civic Centre from Tuesday to Friday.
Large crowds of locals gathered in the Council Chamber’s public gallery to view the proceedings.
A secretary of state appointed planning inspector heard evidence from interested parties including Lidl representatives.
Bromley and Chislehurst MP Bob Neill, who has always strongly objected the deep discount supermarket’s planning bid, gave evidence to the inspector on Thursday.
Yesterday, he posted this tweet:
Gave evidence @PorkyMottingham appeal this morn. Pub an asset of community value & great to see large crowd lending their support in gallery
— Bob Neill MP (@neill_bob) October 2, 2014
Only about five per cent of planning appeals end up as public inquiries.
The inspector is expected to make a final decision in coming weeks.
Residents have already been hatching plans to regenerate their treasured boozer if Lidl’s appeal is rejected.
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