Old pub dealt a bitter blow

Glum Dave Palmer and landlady Jude Lever, outside their White Lion pub at Delph.

A pub has been ordered to remove blackboards advertising food and drink — because they do not comply with a council ruling.

The boards, each measuring 4ft square, were fitted on two exterior walls of the White Lion at Delph, a listed building which was once owned by former West Indies cricket star Sonny Ramadhin.

But Oldham council’s planning department has written to the brewery demanding the signs are removed and insisting it will have to apply for planning permission.

The council’s ultimatum has angered pub landlady Jude Lever and her partner, Dave Palmer, who took over the pub less than a year ago.

The frustrated couple, who spent £200 on having the timber blackboard signs made and fitted three months ago, claim other businesses across Saddleworth use signs to promote trade.

Before taking over they ran a highly successful snack bar business in Hamilton Street, Oldham. Mr Palmer (60) said: “I am absolutely livid.

“We are putting all our efforts into trying to make a go of our new venture and I couldn’t believe it when the brewery told us we’d have to take the signs down. I appreciate Delph is a lovely village and the White Lion is in a conservation area, but our signs don’t cause any problems. They are simply a way of promoting our business.

“There are scores of signs promoting business, sales and shows across Saddleworth villages and I just cannot understand what the problem is.

“We were told by the brewery that its property department had received a letter from Oldham planning department saying the signs must be removed.

“Our customers just couldn’t believe it. The signs are black and white – and they are fitted to the walls of a black and white painted pub.

“We just can’t see what is wrong. ”

Jude added: “As it is, it looks as if it will cost us more to apply for planning permission to reinstate the blackboards than they actually cost.”

A Thwaites Brewery area official, who supervises the White Lion, said: “It’s bizarre. I look after more than 40 pubs and I have never heard of anything like this before.

“The couple are really trying to make the business work. They are doing a fantastic job to increase their food and drink trade and encouraging locals to use the pub.

“The signs are not offensive. But as they did not apply for planning permission the council say they must come down — so our hands are tied.”

Councillor Mark Alcock, cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, said: “The council takes its responsibility for safeguarding conservation areas seriously and owners of listed buildings in such an area, or anywhere else in the borough, are required to follow the correct procedures or enforcement action will be taken.”