Update: Junction ‘isn’t for sale now’
A company has signalled its intention to sell a St Denys pub, and now community groups have a brief opportunity to indicate their interest in taking it on.
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Southampton City Council says Greene King has written to indicate that it wants to dispose of The Junction Inn on Priory Road.
But because residents got together to get it listed as an ‘Asset of Community Value’ (ACV) in 2016, it can’t be sold before community groups have had a brief window – until June 16 - to register with the council their interest in buying it.
“There is a lot of interest locally in holding on to the asset for the community, so we’ll have to wait and see,” said Portswood ward councillor John Savage (Lab), adding though that in current circumstances the process could be “difficult”.
“I am hopeful but it may depend on gaining a legal extension. You can imagine that it will be difficult to arrange a public meeting sometime over the next month while the community is in lockdown.
“Strictly speaking we have until 16th June for a community body to come forward to register interest in retaining the place. Thereafter we would normally have six months to put a bid together.”
As reported, resident Paul Jenks nominated The Junction as an ACV in 2016 - a move which was backed at the time by some 150 pub users. It’s now the only city pub on the council’s ACV register, and he’s co-ordinating a community response.
“The bad thing is I’ve got a month to set up a community organisation that wishes to indicate it wants to bid. And I’ve got to do that in an atmosphere of nobody being able to meet each other,” he said. “So that’s a struggle.”
But despite this he said he thought that first stage could be possible.
“Greene King then by law has to give us six months to raise the money,” he said.
Greene King was contacted for comment, but didn't come back by publication time. We’ll endeavour to update this piece if the company responds over the next few days [see later story Junction 'isn't for sale now'].
To get involved or be kept informed about any community response co-ordinated by Paul Jenks, you can complete this Google form.
Update 19/5/20
Junction 'isn't for sale now'
Previously
Bitterne Park Hotel listed as community asset
From 2014. It no longer is an ACV but article includes discussion about locals taking control of pubs
Photo: L. Weedy