Council questions viability assessment of Moreton pub

THAME Town Council has questioned the validity of a report that says that the once popular Royal Oak at Moreton, near Thame, could no longer be viable as a pub.

The report, commissioned by the current owner of the property who has applied for planning permission for the building’s change of use to a residential building, concluded that Moreton is “too isolated a population with no passsing trade” and therefore not viable as a pub.

The Royal Oak, Moreton, closed 9 years ago, as a failing up-market restaurant, having previously been a profitable and very popular pub and live music venue called Paddy McGinty’s.

Councillors at last night’s meeting of the town council’s Planning committee, said that they remembered the Royal Oak as “a very vibrant pub” with a full car park most weekends, and a favourtie destination for people walking from Thame.

Cllr David Dodds said that he saw no reason why the council should not “stick to its guns”, having previously rejected the plan for change of use, on the grounds that “Members were of the opinion that it had not been proved that the premises would not be viable as a public house.”

“Nothing has changed,” he said. “They need to go through a proper independent marketing excercise, as stipulated by planning rules, and not depend on a paid agent’s view.”

The committe recommened refusal of the application on those grounds.