PLANS to develop the site of the Smithy Manor pub in Sutton Manor have been stalling for years due to a lack of communication and disputes between relevant parties, the owner has said.
Originally opened in 1959 as the Sutton Manor Institute, the Jubits Lane building reopened as the Smithy Manor in the late 80s under the Burtonwood Beers brewery.
Located on the edge of the old Sutton Manor coalfields, the pub quickly became a popular community hub and attracted Liverpudlian musicians Gerry and the Pacemakers to play on the opening night.
However, despite the coalfields becoming the location of Jaume Plensa’s 20-metre Dream structure, the pub did not see a change in its fortunes and shut its doors for good in 2015.
With Dream featuring heavily in the globally successful Netflix series Stay Close, much of this attention has since turned to the derelict site of the Smithy Manor.
Some residents have described it as an “eyesore” that gives visitors a poor first impression of the town.
There have been calls for an urgent redevelopment of the site - with a tourist hub, an education or heritage centre, or even a cafe or restaurant offered as viable alternatives.
The Smithy Manor site owner agrees with these concerns and said he “wants to see it regenerated” for the good of the community - but added that the plans must work for him financially.
With the pub “running at a loss”, land owner Dave Shwenn says that since shutting in 2015, he has spent more than £15k installing fencing around the site due to “constant” fly-tipping.
He said that he has tried to repurpose the site, but a lack of communication between him, St Helens Council and the Government’s Coal Authority (who all have a stake in the site) has hindered any progress.
His proposal to transform the site into offices and five-a-side football pitches was rejected by the council in 2019, and housing proposals were similarly declined in 2016 due to building on the area’s green belt.
Mr Shwenn added that he has also turned down further private housing proposals as these would not benefit the local community.
He added: “I’ve tried to work with the council, and I’m happy to work with them to help the community.
“In 2019, my planning application to turn the site into offices and football pitches was authorised, but then the council decided it was not valid.
“After that, no one has been in touch with me from the local authority.”
Another huge barrier to progress, he explained, is a covenant placed on the land by the Government’s Coal Authority, which forces the owner to hand over 50% of the profits of any future sale of the land.
Despite trying to come to an arrangement that suits all parties, Mr Shwenn said that he has made no progress with the council or the Coal Authority - emphasising that any proposals would have to be financially viable with the covenant in place.
He said: “From day one, I’ve tried my best to plough money into the Smithy Manor and make improvements to it.
“I grew up on a council estate and I have family living in the area, so I do want to see the site regenerated and do something good for the community, but also to not bankrupt myself.”
With an increased focus on the Smithy Manor, the land owner agreed that the site is in need of urgent regeneration and suggested that an office space with a café and toilets for Dream visitors could be a suitable solution for all parties.
Mr Shwenn added: “I’m a personal businessman, not a developer, so I want help from the local authority and the coal board.
“I’ve ploughed my whole life savings into this so I do want to see it regenerated and I’m more than happy to work with them.”
Councillor Anthony Burns, St Helens Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Culture, and Heritage said: “Even though the council is responsible for the maintenance of the Dream statue itself, the council doesn't own or manage any of the surrounding land.
"However, last year - even before Stay Close started streaming - we held discussions with the site owners Forestry England and we’re keen to continue to support and work with them and [other] local community organisations to see what can be done to improve the site and facilities.”
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