CAMPAIGNERS hoping to save the Blackburne Arms have been given a boost after the pub was made an asset of community value.

The Friends of the Blackburne Arms had lodged the bid, which gives added protections against redevelopment, with Warrington Borough Council.

And the council approved the application to list the pub as a nominated asset of community value earlier this month.

Developers have plans to demolish the Blackburne Arms, a listed building on Orford Green that dates back to 1928, in order to build a three-storey block of 52 retirement apartments for the over 55s.

The Warrington Guardian understands that a decision on whether to grant planning permission for the scheme will be made during March's meeting of the council's development management committee.

Mark Moran, chairman of the Friends of the Blackburne Arms, said: "It's the heart of the community.

"Most of the older pubs around here have been flattened, and if we lost this it'll be another place where people aren't able to meet up anymore.

"There is a really strong feeling that the community does not want this to go ahead – there is a massive groundswell.

"Although we can't stop the development from going ahead, this gives us certain powers.

"We can be considered as a buyer for the pub now – residents could buy it as a consortium, and we do have people who are interested in that approach.

"It is an asset to the community, and we want to keep it that way.

"If the current owners don't want it, then we do as a community – we will fight any development."

Warrington has only eight designated assets of community value, many of which are pubs – including the Sportsmans Arms in Penketh, the Raven Inn in Glazebury, the Ring O’Bells in Stretton, the Star Inn in Lymm and the Chapel House Inn in Burtonwood.

The remaining three such sites are Longbarn Bowling Green, the former Lloyds Bank in Lymm and the allotments on Red Lane in Stockton Heath.