Thousands sign petition to stop beer garden being dismantled

The Robin Hood in Pontefract was recently given approval to keep its outdoor seating area after applying for retrospective planning permission, but were told the trellis around the area had to be removed.

They claimed it was not in keeping with the surroundings, which has angered many who say it has turned a drab pavement area into a welcoming setting with attractive plants now growing over the steel frame.

The area sits next to the Wakefield Road pub and was previously part of the public highway, although never utilised for any purpose.

The decision by council planners led to pub regular Rebecca Campbell setting up the petition on Change.org, which has so far attracted more than 3,700 signatures and calls for Wakefield Council to reverse its decision.

Rebecca said: “People kept saying it was such a shame and that they would sign a petition, so I set one up.

“I’m really surprised by how many people have signed it, it shows how much support there is for the garden.

“It’s always been an area where dead leaves and litter gets blown into, a concrete wasteland, so to see someone do something to the area is encouraging.”

Among the many comments left on the petition was Angela Jarrett, who said: “It enhances what was a derelict piece of land into something much more aesthetic. It needs to stay and become a talking point for the town.”

Dean Smith, who runs the pub, says they bought the area of land from Wakefield Council nearly two years ago and will be appealing the recent decision, although it is yet to be lodged with the council.

He said: “The Robin Hood public house sits at the centre of community.

“It sits there not as only a business but a place to gather, a place the be together.

“We named it The People’s Garden.

“It’s open to everyone and anyone to use 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Robin Hood owns it but it’s everyone’s to use, customer or not.

“We work closely on projects and the project to improve Pontefract as place to live, work, socialise, be educated at and visit. It’s a shame the planning department made their decision as they did.

“Hopefully the voice and the collective backing for the trellis and the garden by the people of Pontefract will work towards that department and the people who made the initial decision to reject it, reverse their ruling post our forthcoming appeal.”

To sign the petition, log onto Change.org and search “Robin Hood pub”.