Tout’s Budgens is facing opposition from village locals over its plans to convert an historic pub into a new supermarket.
Tout’s completed the purchase of the Lord Nelson pub in Cleeve, Somerset, in December, causing local residents to successfully campaign the council to list the site as an Asset of Community Value.
Tout’s said it would begin a public consultation before developing the pub and work with the locals to ensure maximum employment and community value for the residents of Cleeve and the surrounding villages.
“We are a small community-focused family business and we have always been keen to explore new opportunities, which best serve the communities we are in,” said Tout’s Budgens MD Jonathan Tout.
“This has led our business to develop into retail, pharmacy, restaurants and hairdressing, from our first petrol station over 16 years ago. Each of these new ventures arose from a particular need within one of the communities we were serving.”
The pub, which was previously operated by Greene King, features 7,900 sq ft of ground floor and sits on a 1.6-acre plot.
Local news reports said a campaign to “save the pub” received backing from more than 300 people.
“We have and always will be extremely dedicated to providing the best possible engagement and support of the local communities we work in and we are extremely excited about the opportunity to work with the people of Cleeve,” said Tout.
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