Sadness as bid to save George and Dragon pub at Boldron fails

A LAST ditch bid to save a Teesdale village’s only pub has failed.
Boldron’s George and Dragon Inn stopped trading on February 6.
A sombre South West Durham planning committee gave the green light for owners Terry and Julie Race to convert the 167-year-old property into two homes last Thursday (February 16).
Pub regular Phil Ryan spoke on behalf of the opposition and tried to buy more time to save the pub.
He said: “I’d like to thank Terry and Julie for running the pub since 2006 – as regulars we’ve been aware of long running business issues but
there was no real understanding of those until December 2016.
“We do have regard for Terry and Julie’s financial position, however, the position of the George and Dragon is likely to be irrevocable.”
A petition signed by 29 villagers had sought to get the pub listed as an “asset of community value” – offering a period of six months for a community bidder to be found.
But the listing proved unsuccessful.
Mr Ryan said the village hall was “not an easy or natural substitute” for the pub and thought the asking price for the site had been too high.
He added: “Although we are a small village, this decision would have wider implications in County Durham if approved.
“It is likely to open the door for the marketing of licensed premises at above market value.”
Mr Race told committee members how he’d tried various strategies to make the pub viable but all hadn't worked.
“Despite our attempts for a wider customer base we failed,” he said.
“We could not sustain maintenance of the building and this situation led to us closing the pub while maintaining a presence in the village.”
Efforts to re-open the pub part time in 2014 petered out before Mr Race closed the pub for a second time and final time. 
Mr Race said the wider community hadn’t embraced the pub and sought to draw a line under the business.
He added: “All attempts at making this business a success have failed – this is due to economic conditions and a lack of support from the village itself despite the support of a few loyal regulars.
“Our application is sought out of desperation not desire.”
County planners had recommended the pub conversion should go ahead. Planning officer Tim Burnham added that the viability of the pub was “limited” and having homes on the site was an “acceptable” use for the land.
County councillors regretfully agreed that it was time to let the pub go.
Cllr Charlie Kay said: “It does come to a point where, sadly, you get to the last page of the book and you have to close it.”
Cllr John Clare added: “Although it will aggrieve us to close it, the truth of the matter is the conversion into houses is infinitely preferable than having a blot in the centre of the village.”
Planning approval was granted unanimously.
Both Mr Ryan and Mr Race took the decision in good faith and shook hands after the meeting.