Golden Harp campaigners prepare for Tesco's latest appeal

A rallying cry has gone out from Golden Harp campaigners to descend on a meeting discussing Tesco’s latest planning appeal for the Maidenhead site.

The meeting is due to be held on Thursday, October 17, at the council chamber in Maidenhead Town Hall at 10am.

The former Golden Harp pub in Furze Platt Road was bought by Tesco with the intention to convert it into a store.

Tesco is appealing a decision made by the Royal Borough to reject eight of its applications including for the installation of a new shop front, timber bollards and hard-standing.

Tesco does not require change of use planning consent for the building.

The Furze Platt Action Group (FPAG) has been fighting to save the pub since December 2012 and believes a strong turnout will help achieve their goal.

"It will help to influence the planning inspector because there is such an interest on a local level," said (FPAG) chairman Mark Newcombe.

Mark, who lives in Gardener Road, and three other members of the group will speak on issues including fears over road safety and the community importance of keeping it a pub.

"We are hopeful that the decision of the borough will be upheld," said Mark, who envisages the set-back could discourage Tesco from continuing with the plans.

The FPAG would then set about persuading Tesco to give up the lease and bring the group one step closer in its attempts to buy back the empty pub which has been listed as a community asset.

A petition created by the FPAG to stop Tesco opening received 4,000 signatures.

Mark added: "Tesco will have a good go at it but we have the people of Furze Platt behind us and we will continue to fight on."