Cheltenham pub's long-running row with Morrisons over a pile of bricks finally ends

Summary

A Cheltenham pub has promised to get a “dangerous” wall repaired after years of frustration due to a dispute over its ownership. It is thought that the wall, on the edge of The Greatfield’s car park in Caernarvon Road, Up Hatherley, may have been damaged by a vehicle several years ago.

Details

Nothing has been done to repair the gaping hole in the wall, despite incidents when people have reportedly tripped up while trying to walk over the pile of bricks and vegetation at the site. One allegedly involved a woman nearly dropping her baby and another saw a pregnant woman nearly fall over.

Up Hatherley Parish Council has spent the last 18 months pleading with the pub and its near neighbour, Morrisons , to resolve a dispute between them about who is responsible for the wall. The council insisted the wall was in a dangerous condition and spoiled the otherwise tidy area.

Veteran councillor Peter Worsley, who has been the authority’s vice-chairman for 20 years, said he believed the wall had been wrecked about five years ago. He said: “Nobody knows who did it or at least I’m not aware of it. “It’s been a very serious problem.

A number of people have fallen down while trying to get through the gap, including women with pushchairs.” The 82-year-old said he lobbied the pub over the matter while the council’s chair, Sarah Bamford, liaised with Morrisons. But he said neither accepted responsibility for the maintenance of the wall. He added: “We’ve tried to do something about it but we’ve been blocked at every turn.

They’ve been passing the buck to each other.” Now, though, it seems there has finally been a breakthrough. A spokesperson for The Greatfield said: “This issue has gone on for too long.

“There is confusion as to how it happened and who would be responsible for repairs, but we have decided – as proud members of the community – that we will take the lead for the repair and reinstatement of the wall as soon as is possible.” Morrisons’ store is separated from the pub by four shops but its delivery yard is right next to the pub’s car park. The supermarket giant declined to comment.

Mr Worsley, who plans to stand down as the council’s vice-chairman next year because of ill health, is delighted that the wall is to be repaired at last. He said: “It pleases me enormously. We kept plugging away.

Report source: Gloucestershire Live