Landlord of former King’s Head pub in Pulham St Mary calls on South Norfolk Council to buy him out

The owner of a crumbling village pub has issued an ultimatum over its future.

Graham Scott, the landlord of the former King’s Head in Pulham St Mary, has called on South Norfolk Council to buy the derelict building.

Mr Scott recently saw his fourth attempt to demolish the Grade II listed building blocked by the authority due to a lack of “convincing justification” for tearing it down.

However, he has now issued the council with a purchase notice, requesting the site be brought into public use in light of the continued refusal of his applications.

This is the third time Mr Scott has asked the council to buy the pub in an effort to bring an end to the long-running planning stalemate.

He says his business had become “loss-making” when it closed in 2007 and insists that turning the site into housing remains his only viable option.

His attempts to knock down the historic building have been met with huge opposition.

A petition against his latest plans gathering nearly 1,000 supporters – but Mr Scott believes he has the support of the “majority of residents” in the area.

Clayton Hudson, South Norfolk councillor for Pulham St Mary, has also called on the authority to purchase the building and put an end to the saga once and for all.

However, the council has no plans to do so and believes a new owner could make a success of the pub, which closed nearly two decades ago.

Mr Scott has accused officials at the council of “preferring to leave the pub to decay” in the centre of the village and argues his proposed developments would provide much-needed housing in the area.

He has also indicated his intention to lodge an appeal against the most recent refusal of his demolition bid.