'Haunted' pub ordered to be rebuilt after developers illegally knocked it down
A group of property developers have been ordered to rebuild a historic pub that is said to be haunted after it was illegally destroyed.
The Punch Bowl Inn was reduced to rubble in June 2021 after Donelan Trading Ltd and a contractor say they grew tired of waiting for the council.
They claimed the building was falling into disrepair and had been targeted by arsonists since closing in 2012, Lancs Live reports.
But Ribble Valley Council said it had made efforts to engage with the five defendants, who were handed fines of over £20,000 in a sentencing at Blackburn Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.
The Grade-II listed boozer in Hurst Green, Lancashire, was said to be haunted by the ghost of highwayman Ned King.
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The pub was reduced to rubble (Matthew Lofthouse / SWNS)It was built in 1720s, and was visited by the notorious crook on several occasions before he was executed in 1741.
A previous hearing at Burnley Magistrates Court heard a key witness, construction firm boss Gez Pegram, tell a jury that there had been “no need” to demolish the pub.
During that trial, Andrew Donelan, 61, Nicola Donelan, 59; Rebecca Donelan, 29, all of of Carr Hall, Wilpshire, David John Cotterell, 58, of Percliff Way, Blackburn, and Brian Ingleby, 70, of Hollowhead Avenue, Blackburn, were found to have illegally destroyed the pub.
On Wednesday, at Blackburn Magistrates' Court, Donelan Trading Ltd was fined £12,000, handed a £1,200 court surcharge and ordered to pay £20,000 towards costs.
Andrew Donelan and wife Nicola Donelan (James Maloney/Lancs Live)Andrew Donelan received a £2,000 fine, a £200 surcharge and told to pay £2,000 towards costs.
Nicola Donelan was given a £1,000 fine, a £100 surcharge and ordered to pay £1,000 costs.
Rebecca Donelan received a lower £200 fine, a £25 surcharge and told to pay £250 towards costs.
Purcliff Ltd was fined £5,600, had a £560 surcharge and told to pay £20,000 towards costs .Brian Ingleby was fined £1,000, given a £100 surcharge and charged £1,000.
David John Cotterell was fined £400, given a £40 surcharge and has to pay £400 towards costs.
The businesses were told to pay fines, surcharges and costs soon while the individuals were given slightly longer periods to repay.
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In a separate planning process, an order has been made that The Punch Bowl Inn must also be rebuilt and restored inside and out .
The original building materials from the rubble must be used or other materials judged suitable by Ribble Valley Council.
The companies involved were Donelan Trading Ltd, which owned the demolished pub, and Percliff Ltd, a contractor.. Mr Donelan owns the Donelan Trading Ltd and his wife is the secretary.
David Lawson, defending, told the court the defendants were worried the building had become unsafe over time. He said they believed its state had got worse over the years and it was broken into and targeted by arsonists.
He also alleged Ribble Valley Council had not acted properly or fast enough, and the group became frustrated with apparent delays.
However, Killian Garvey, representing Ribble Valley Council, said borough planning staff had communicated professionally with the group and made efforts to engage. But the group ignored various warnings, including from Historic England, and demolished the pub without permission. They also failed to have a proper road closure.
Furthermore, Ribble Valley Council was justified in wanting its full costs reimbursed for the work linked to the Punch Bowl Inn action. The court agreed with this. The council had acted correctly.
Rebecca Donelan was guilty of one offence of demolishing a listed building without authority.
The other four were all guilty of that offence plus a second offence of demolishing a listed building without giving the local authority notice of their intention and without the local authority having given them notice to do so.
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