Building’s new owner wants to tear it down and build 56 new flats

Boyband The Wanted have backed a campaign to save a Willesden Green pub from being demolished and turned into 56 flats.

The award-winning five-piece band, whose hits include ‘Chasing The Sun’ sent out a tweet urging people to sign a petition calling for The Queensbury pub in Walm Lane, to be saved from the wrecking ball.

The tweet reads ‘Oh one of ours &@BensonTheWanted awesome locals @TheQueensbury needs saving from the bulldozer! PLEASE help u here’ with a link to an online petition set up by campaigners.

Neighbours, residents and staff are taking action after the Conservative Club, who own the building, sold it to Fairview New Homes who want to tear it down and build a 10-storey block of flats in it place.

The Times has discovered that if the pub is demolished, the nearby Queensbury Deli is expected to close as well as it is unlikely to be able to sustain business on its own.

The Wanted have joined former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone and MP for Brent Central, Sarah Teather in backing the campaign

Mr Livingstone said: “It is a really nice family pub and it will be a real tragedy to lose it. Willesden Green will be a worse place for losing it. We totally oppose it (the plan).”

Ms Teather, who has launched her own petition, said: “If this development goes ahead it will have a devastating impact on the high street.”

Maggie Robson, who lives close to The Queensbury, said: “This pub represents much more. It is a nice place to eat and acts as something of a community hub as well.”

A council spokesman said it carried out a re-consultation exercise on the plans to amend the development description to more accurately reflect the proposal.

Fairview New Homes has failed to respond to calls from the Times.