Neighbours, residents and staff of The Queensbury pub vow to fight development plans

A determined community is pledging to fight plans to demolish a pub and replace it with 56 flats.

Neighbours, residents and staff of The Queensbury pub in Walm Lane, Willesden Green, are taking action after Fairview New Homes put in a planning application to Brent Council to knock it down.

The plans would also see the Conservative Club torn down and customers of the pub fear it could halt regeneration of the area – which they say has been neglected by the council for some time.

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.”

Liam Win, of Dartmouth Road, said: “It was a bit of a shock and disappointment finding out about the plans.

“We have lived in the area for about a year and a half now and this will be a huge loss. There is nowhere else in the area to go that is like this.”

Campaigners argued that the pub helps run community events and hosts mother and baby sessions – ensuring that new mothers are able to socialise with others in their situation.

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

The campaign to save The Queensbury has already received the backing of former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone and MP for Brent Central, Sarah Teather.

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 said: “If this development goes ahead it will have a devastating impact on the high street.”

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

This means that no decision can be made until at least 21 days after the publishing of a press notice today (Thursday).

Fairview New Homes did not respond to calls from the Times.