CAMPAIGNERS are preparing for arguably the ‘most important six months’ in the 450-year history of a pub on the market for more than £400,000.

An application to list the Raven Inn in Glazebury, on Warrington Road, as an asset of community value (ACV) was recently approved.

It came after a developer’s proposal to demolish the historic site to pave the way for housing was withdrawn.

Read Property Associates has listed the pub on the market – and says its client is ‘willing to dispose of the freehold opportunity’ for a sale price in excess of £400,000, exclusive of VAT.

The Help Save the Raven Inn steering group has confirmed it intends to make a community bid in the next six months.

A spokesman said: “This could be the most important six months in the 450-year history of the Raven.

“This time next year the Raven could be operating as a community pub, or it could be there but unrecognisable, or it could be gone forever. Anything is still possible.

“Having secured the Raven as an ACV, persuaded the developer to withdraw and seen the Raven go on the open market, now is the time to move on to the next stage in safeguarding the Raven for future generations.

“As a result of the ACV, we now have six months to make a community bid for the Raven and we have notified the council that is our intention.”

However, the group is calling on residents to continue throwing their support behind the campaign to protect the site.

Furthermore, it has issued a warning by insisting it is ‘far from saved’.

The spokesman added: “If we are unable to negotiate a purchase, we could be back to square one in January. Now is a pivotal time.

“The major means of purchasing a community pub is by offering community shares, alongside various loans and grants.”

A public meeting will take place at 7pm on September 5 at Culcheth High School to update residents.

Each house in Glazebury and Culcheth is set to be notified about the event as part of a ‘major leafleting campaign’.