Plans to convert 250-year-old pub to housing approved despite residents' pleas

The Hildyard Arms in Market Place, Patrington, first opened as Escreet’s Inn in 1768. It shut after Christmas two years ago.

Chartmore Resources Ltd wants to turn the pub into three houses with a garage block in the rear.

Agent Chris Kendall told a Zoom meeting of the East Riding Council's eastern area planning sub-committee on Monday that the Hildyard Arms was not a designated community asset.

He said: "The developer will provide houses and there are other facilities in the village that will be enhanced by the removal of a rival."

But a letter on behalf of more than 20 residents read to the meeting urged councillors to defer a decision until a public meeting could be held to discuss options.

It said the plans were submitted when locals were more concerned about social distancing than trying to save the building, which has been "the heart and social soul of our village for more than 250 years."

However one of the councillors on the committee, Coun Brian Skow, said he had used the pub on many occasions and before it closed he was sometimes the only one in.

He said: "The old saying goes - use it or lose it."

He added: "The applicant is trying his best to keep the property as traditional as possible even keeping the pub name and the swinging pub sign intact. The building will look nearly the same as it is now. The parish council fully support this application.

"Common sense has to prevail as sentimentality does not make a profit."

He was backed by Coun Dave Tucker, who said there were at least three establishments that serve alcohol.

People's drinking habits had changed, they no longer stopped for a pint on the way home from work and pubs were no longer the hub of the community at the weekend.

"This is a huge, huge building that has been dormant for several years and yes it comes down to pure economics," he said.