IT’S a case of glass half full for a campaign to buy and reopen a village pub which shut down seven years ago, with £216,000 already raised in pledges and donations towards a possible compulsory purchase.

Villagers who obtained community asset status for the Rising Sun in Woodcroft in 2013 say they need £350,000 in total and are well on the way to obtaining the funds to buy it from a developer who has failed to obtain planning permission to convert it into homes. 

Michelle Hayes of the Save Our Sun (SOS) campaign in Woodcroft said: “We are delighted that so far we have been pledged a fantastic £216,000 in donations and pledges from an incredible 90 investors.

“What a fantastic response and this means that we can proceed in pursuing the compulsory purchase.”

The plea for pledges was launched just last month, with campaigners initially aiming to pass £200,000 to show the Forest Council the community was capable of buying the premises.

SOS has previously made an offer to Worthy Developments to buy the pub, which was turned down, but is aiming to raise £350,000 in total towards compulsory purchasing the building and reopening it as a community pub hub.

The Forest Council awarded the pub community asset status (CAS) two years after the Sun closed down in 2011 following a community campaign.

CAS helped thwart the developer’s plans to convert it into homes and the building was placed on the market at the end of 2017.

The protection means that the community has to be given the opportunity to buy the pub if it can raise the cash and provide a viable business model.

Michelle added: “We had July 1 as our deadline as the report was due to be presented to the Forest Cabinet at the council on July 5, and we wanted to be sure of support to proceed.

“Due to unavoidable circumstances, the preparation of the report was delayed at the council’s end, and the next Forest Council cabinet meeting is now not until September 13.

“But the solicitor has assured me the report will be tabled at this meeting and if approved will go to full council for debate in October. If approved the compulsory purchase process will start the week after this.”

She added that the delay gave SOS more time to raise the £350,000 needed.

“We know this community can build a community hub to be proud of, and we are a step closer,” she said.

Campaigners said a community consultation meeting on June 15 at Tutshill Memorial Hall was packed.