Red Dwarf actor Danny John Jules has called the shock demolition of one of his local pubs in Kilburn as being a ‘calculated’ move by the owners.
Carlton Tavern in Carlton Vale, was reduced to rubble after it was destroyed by two bulldozers with no prior warning or council permission last week.
Witnesses stared in amazement as the building, which dates back to 1920, was demolished with all its contents inside including a pint left on a table.
A spokeswoman for Historic England, previously known as English Heritage, told the Times there were plans to recommend the pub, which survived the Blitz, be given a grade II listing pending approval from the Department for Culture Media and Sport.
The 54-year-old, who lives nearby in Kensal Rise, said Westminster Council should take action against the pub’s owners.
He said: “I was quite surprised that this building was reduced to rubble.
“I walk past it all the time and it wasn’t dilapidated or in a bad state of repair.
“This demolition was a calculated move to avoid any confrontation with the Grade II listing side of things.
“If the owners can’t come up with legitimate reason to why they destroyed the building the council should take action against them.”
Last year the pub was bought by a company called CLTX which submitted a planning application, via an agent, to the council requesting the building be destroyed and replaced with a pub at ground level and 10 residential units over four floors.
However, the plans were rejected on the basis that the bulk, height and detailed design of the new development “would be detrimental to the view from the adjacent Maida Vale Conservation Area and view from the nearby recreation ground where it was a gateway to the park.
Mr Jules said: “This pub was like a community centre for the old school residents who have been living here for generations.
“I think it’s another piece of Kilburn’s character which is gone. I’ve seen this happen in Notting Hill and it will be sad if it happens here.
“This pub will be missed more in the future than now.”
Patsy Lord, the pub’s landlady, was kept in the dark about the plans after being told it would be closed for an inventory.
She said: “It’s heartbreaking. There was no warning.”
A page calling for the pub to be rebuilt has been set up on social media networking site Facebook.
So far ‘Rebuild the Carlton Tavern’ has attracted more than 1,300 likes.
The person behind the group, who has asked to be anonymous told the Times: “This has been set up to show that the local community care; the pub survived the blitz and yet the owners didn’t care and went ahead anyway.
“They should be made to pay to build it back as it was and brick by brick; a pub that belongs to the people of Kilburn and London.”
The Times has contacted the company believed to be the agent of CLTX and are still awaiting a response.
Westminster Council are currently consulting their lawyers about any possible legal action against the owners.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here