The Bell and Castle pub in Horsley to be sold at auction (From Stroud News and Journal)

The Bell and Castle pub in Horsley to be sold at auction

10:18am Friday 7th September 2012 in News By Tamash Lal, News editor

THE owner of a disused pub in Horsley has decided to put the property up for auction.
The Bell and Castle has been vacant since May 2008 and owner Alex Kerr was granted planning consent in June this year to partially demolish, rebuild and refurbish the pub.
Stroud district councillors had rejected the plans but permission was granted at appeal.
Mr Kerr hoped to reopen it with two bed and breakfast rooms and planned to build three new family houses on the site with stone frontages.
Parish councillors had objected to Mr Kerr's scheme and talked of raising money to buy the pub.
They wanted to see affordable housing and a community facility on the site.
Nick Hackett, chairman of Horsley Parish Council, said: "The parish council would still love to buy the property.
"We have offered what we consider the correct valuation, but it is going for much more at the auction.
"The council can not buy something for more than it is worth - it would be a burden on the village."
The auction is at Thornbury Golf Club on September 12 at 7pm.