Tuesday 21 April 2015

Stephen Metcalfe and Tony Ball Call for the Barge Inn to be protected

Stephen Metcalfe, local Parliamentary Candidate and Tony Ball, Basildon Council Candidate for Vange have today called for The Barge Inn in Vange to be protected.

Unfortunately the Barge Inn suddenly closed a couple of weeks ago and faces an uncertain future, however, whatever its future, Stephen and Tony are calling for the building itself to be protected.

Stephen said: “It would be a real shame if this valuable local community facility closed permanently and, if re-elected, we would want to explore what options there are for it to be brought back to life, perhaps as a community enterprise. However, I am equally keen to see the building itself protected.”

“We know there has been a pub on this site for a least 200 years, possibly much longer, and it would be a crime to lose yet another bit of local heritage.”

Tony Ball said: “This local landmark is an important part of our heritage and another candidate for a ‘Local List’. As a predominately new town, our local heritage is sparse but our local identity is strong. That it is why it is important to protect what we do have.”

Stephen added: “Since we lost the Old Rectory I have met with Basildon Heritage and together we are hoping to start pulling together a list of local landmarks that could form the basis of a ‘Local List’, what we don’t want to see is yet another Basildon icon lost to a block of flats. These sites are important and we should work to protect them.

“If elected that’s what both Tony and I will do.”