Crooked House pub fire being treated as arson by police

[@SouthpawSatch]

The council and police should look into the new owners. They quite obviously carried out the arson and demolision so they could rebuild. Absolutely disgusting. Send them to prison and force them to pay for the pub being rebuilt in the black country museum. Surely it was a listed building.

[@marbballz]

It wasn't but it was registered to be listed

[@leahkeyworth]

That greedy woman who owns it, her and her husband bought another pub and gutted it. Seems strange that prior to its demise, they hired a bulldozer, then seems strange after it burnt down, was bulldozed straight away! If a house catches fire, then it has to be investigated for arson and insurance purposes. At the very least, this woman needs prosecuting for tampering with evidence. I bet she also has the nerve to claim on the insurance and its people like this that end up getting full pay out, plus freed up land. Probably a win win to her. I'm sure many locals and people around the country won't make her or her husbands life easy after this.

[@Church_Of_Kloppism]

In our city our football club was sold for £1 to "eager investors" within 2 years we were groundless and they turned our 120 year old football ground into a housing development, shit like this has happened for years nobody will ever do anything to stop it.

[@hmak5423]

Okay I'll get that done for you ASAP.

[@bonnon377]

Stfu the thing was an accident waiting to happen.

[@pennywood5620]

Fine them as much as possible, then deny planning permission for anything except rebuilding the pub. Someone has to stand up to this corruption

[@stephenminohara2519]

Fine them!!!; jail time me thinks.

[@shark418]

nah

[@marcandsebe]

I would definitely say the only planning permission you will ever get is to build a pub to match the existing one.

[@rogersmith8339]

Don't give them permission, make them rebuild it accurately using original methods and materials.

[@waynerobinson9948]

Compulsory purchase the land form it’s owner then start the rebuild of the pub giving its owner peanuts showing how crime doesn’t pay

[@empirecook]

100% the private owners set it on fire and flattened it to use the land to develop on. They knew any plans wouldn’t be approved if the pub remained, and the backlash from the community would’ve blocked everything. Perfect example of it being easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

[@Retrofordguy]

Couldn't have sed it better hustory mean sweet FA when mineys concerned

[@TomTKK]

I'd probably do the same tbf, people crying about history when they've never been. Pubs are failing since covid and the owners aren't making money. It is what it is

[@Ryan-vd9cm]

They can't even build on thier the area is full of own mine shafts

[@DEFACTO9]

Call me synical but it sure feels deliberate.

[@aliasofanalias7448]

Arson also lowers the prices of potential surrounding lots. Developers have been doing it since the early 1900s

[@vanessarheadart9708]

The road was blocked by dirt piles causing the fire men to have to run hoses to the building. The fire investigators had said not to demolish until they where happy they had investigated fully and within hours it was demolished. This isn't the first time pubs in the midlands have burnt to the group d and been demolished within hours. It can take weeks to book large machinery but these people seem to have bulldozers just waiting for these "accidents' to happen. The council and law enforcement should make an example out of people who use potentially life threatening disasters to help move along development schemes.

[@markmiller6402]

I live in London, and the amount that have burned down here is shocking.

[@stephenchappell7512]

Unfortunately 'the government' is on the side of their fellow crooks

[@leahkeyworth]

​​@@BercilakdehautdesertI'm curious to what she plans on doing with the land, obviously not a housing estate as who would want to live next door to a waste site anyway. Talking of waste, people like her are bad eggs, but always end up coming out smelling of roses. We all know they did it, just can't be proved. Happens all the time, the least she should be prosecuted for tampering and destroying evidence. That should carry prison sentences. Im sure the locals will not be on friendly terms with her and her husband anyway.

[@stephenchappell7512]

@andrewbarry6702 That's my mindset I see 'the government' and its MSM collaborators as being an occupying force pure and simple and treat them as such I just wish there were more of us out there without their head stuck in their arse

[@insomniacbritgaming1632]

it's happened all over Bradford... part of the "diverse" population... it'll be rebuilt as vape shops, phone shops and an off license

[@johfunut2529]

Bought by a private firm 1 month ago then caught fire. How convenient.

[@johnsmith-ik8il]

My thoughts exactly. Prime land for a you know what.

[@mrtoptenatten]

"Very"😮

[@aliasofanalias7448]

It skips a whole step, you don't need planning permission for demolition of a lot that's already demolished

[@Jack-fs2im]

smells fishy to me ,mmmmmm

[@davidhowells-rl9li]

Yes especially lucky, that it never caught on fire in its previous one hundred years ! A bit of subsidence due to underground mine workings, but nothing untoward ???

[@Immortal-Headcase]

My opinion is that the new owners had plans to demolish and develop the land. But when plans were announced to list the building as historically relevant, they acted before it could be listed. First the road was blocked with random piles of dirt, all the buildings were violently set alight then flattened two days later. To quote Ian Flemming, Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action.

[@rickydaley3347]

10 yrs + Prison sentences need to be handed out! Arson, putting people's life's at risk, demolishing of a graded build (part of our culture) & should be rebuilt brick by brick at the owners expense

[@ALK3MIS7]

Burnt it down so they can Build Houses. Happens everywhere.

[@joebees21]

They won't be able to build houses on it due to the subsidence. It turns out that the new owners have a connection to the landfill company behind the pub.

[@cuntyfinger110]

@@guitarman4 ... plus the insurance payout.

[@adamp5879]

The same company bought an old listed pub in a place called Mosborough in Sheffield, that strangely got burnt down a few weeks after they bought it 🤔

[@MadCapMag]

Source or it didn’t happen.

[@adamp5879]

@@MadCapMag google Royal Oak Mosborough. It wasn’t a fire it was chemical dump my mistake but the same thing.

[@robonzo4817]

no they didn't. according to the local news stories that was a company called Lazerus Properties trading as Bar24. Both are still in business.

[@jeffsuter344]

Obviously arson. Take a look at the developers. Whoever ordered the demolition are guilty of defying council instructions and fines, heavy fines, should be issued.

[@leahkeyworth]

Not just that. They tampered and destroyed evidence, should be prosecuted for a crime. Arson is a serious offence and if it is suspected, can't be then investigated as any evidence was destroyed.

[@Hereford1642]

I saw a councillor on another channel saying they had granted partial demolition of part of first floor since the fire. Why so quick Mr Councillor?

[@lambastepirate]

Jail time is needed not just fines!!!

[@welshman64]

They will get away with it .money money money, corruption

[@davidhowells-rl9li]

Unfortunately the courts can only award a certain amount for this type of crime, even the courts have to follow guide lines? And the unscrupulous people use this system to their own advantage! You have to speculate to accumulate? So they're prepared to take the penalty,if it leads to them making profit?, So do away with the fine and impose longish castodial sentences,for the offending developers, that's the only way to keep greedy people in cheque.

[@TiltonRD]

The company who purchased the pub had previously purchased a pub in Warwickshire which they wanted to turn into residential accommodation they started to gut it without permission until the council stopped them, this time it seems they learnt just to burn it down straight away. They should be made to rebuild it if that’s not possible then a jail sentence and no planning permission granted

[@leahkeyworth]

With their track history, apparently they had bought another pub in sheffield that got burnt down also! The community need to kick them 2 village clowns out the community 😅. Re corruption, probably many in power also are involved in many land and property legally and ethically corrupt deals. Im sure anytime soon, laws won't change to stop this from happening.

[@str1fe192]

​@@yhyh8990why does that matter?

[@queeniegreengrass3513]

​@@yhyh8990not too many corrupt maori housing developers around these parts??

[@patreddy1610]

​@@yhyh8990From what I have seen they are Caucasian. Why should race have any part in this atrocious situation?

[@LayLoow]

​@@yhyh8990it was as Human, who cares what colour 😂

[@purpleguy3000]

The arson is so blatant it's clear the developers don't care and have likely done this before. Hopefully this one is too high profile to get away with and they're forced to rebuild it brick by brick.

[@jonwingfieldhill6143]

They will probably end up selling it with planning for 3 crooked homes and a block of flats as long as they make one affordable housing the council will happily take a donation to their champagne fund via 6 anonymous donors and a shell company via a bank in the Bahamas.

[@SK-kh2rs]

Why? It's a shit building. Hate walking past it

[@That_0ne_Dev]

Them: "We do this all the time all pver the country, no one will notice" Everyone: *notices*

[@globe1987]

It "caught fire" not long after being bought by a new company, the roads to the building were blocked with mounds of dirt and then they demolished it after being told only the top floors needed to be taken down. An insurance job if ever I saw one. Same thing happened to the towers at Cambridge train station, except one had to be refurbished at a great cost 😂

[@TheGodpharma]

It's far too obvious to be an insurance job. I think they just wanted rid of it, either to redevelop the site, or for better access to some adjacent properties they apparently own, which the pub was apparently obstructing.

[@AxxSir]

Might be the stupidest insurance job ever. Didnt even wait a month before commiting Arson. Hope the council forces a rebuild.

[@jimboss1982]

It's not an insurance job they just want the land

[@AxxSir]

@@jimboss1982 im sure if it didnt get all this attention they'd be claiming from insurance 100%. They saw all the media attention and very rapidly went to demolish the building without consent. Quite obvious they realise they fucked up.

[@thomasswainson2047]

Really not difficult. Directors of company in jail for 12 months. Will stop this known loophole.

[@tomr200199]

Try 12 years. Months are for people being negligent, years are for those deliberately scheming.

[@DofTF]

What's the odds they'll get off with it scott free. Whoever is responsible for this should be publicly flogged!

[@Fuxy22]

All the evidence is gone not much they could do about it... then again they should probably make them rebuild it as is...

[@shark418]

Nah

[@verybigkittens7550]

They should have the same thing done to them as they did to the pub. Probably developers payed some one to set it on fire.

[@jeffsuter344]

Once again dodgy businesses get away with law breaking.

[@InverhavonRailways]

Too many brown envelopes in back pockets. Enough said...

[@nicholashunter8638]

Its was burned by someone paid by the developer,no one will ever be charged,and it will built on,pint of corruption anyone?

[@genevieverichardson280]

My heart goes out to the locals who loved this place, former landlords and owners. This is exactly what happens where I live to historic buildings when they are in the way of new development. I hope, this time, with national media attention, you get a conviction and it brings this issue into question when it happens in other places in the future!

[@baconrasher6650]

The people that bought the pub hired a digger 5 days before it was torn down by a digger! Look deeper people, find all the story instead of one bit!!

[@stephenmonks240]

Did the same for Tommy Ducks pub in Manchester City centre, next day it was demolished despite it being a listed building

[@smithychris8537]

Can't keep letting people/companies get away with it. Need much stricter laws.

[@paulbird3235]

These fcukers should be locked away.

[@neil5877]

Yeah, it was so obvious they had a bulldozer ready to go straight away. The developers and everyone involved must be arrested and made to pay.

[@CJ-rk6pv]

People are fed up with this happening to historical buildings in the West Midlands that developers know that they won't get planning permission for. Corruption runs deep.

[@michaeld5888]

People being tired of this will not feed back in to any action. The thing in Britain is the corruption is so built in to the system that it cannot be isolated and dealt with. You cannot make a beam from a rotten tree.

[@ob9896]

100% an insurance job

[@islayidiots713]

Definitely!!

[@eileenspamer]

or new world order

[@baldwelder8775]

the insurers wont pay out if they are suspicious

[@jimboss1982]

Nope nothing to do with insurance scam they just want the land to build on

[@jimsmith1998]

It was the owner, but not for insurance, it was getting looked at by the heritage people, to make it a listed building, if it was listed, then the owners plans to build on the site would be scuppered, burn it, then say oh we had to destroy as unsafe, they got in their before it was granted listed status, I hope thr council make them rebuild it brick by brick

[@Hereford1642]

The pub was gutted by the fire but still standing. I saw a councillor saying that they had given permission to knock some first floor down after the fire. Why so keen when there is a potential arson to investigate? Why was the place not cordoned off and preserved as a potential crime scene. This stinks and everyone knows it. Very difficult now to prove a crime if they keep their mouths shut but can any civil case be brought against them which only needs a balance of probabilities to bring in a verdict. Not sure who the complainant would be - maybe the whole community.

[@normangauley]

No one will go to jail, a slap on the wrist at the most. Lawless UK!

[@queeniegreengrass3513]

The UK media is complicit. They always take the high profile cases and advertise it, but the daily corruption is ignored. To make it look like everything's working fine in the UK. Just like with Child S. Exploitation in madaline mcanns case.

[@rocketmunkey1]

If the people push long and hard enough they will go to jail, just like the poisoners who Lied "safe and effective" will face justice eventually !

[@TheGodpharma]

Even if the owners did torch it, it isn't clear if they broke any law. I'm not sure it's arson to burn your own property; at worst they could maybe charged with recklessly endangering anyone that might have been nearby.

[@SK-kh2rs]

Go to an actual lawless country and you'll be running back to 'lawless UK'. Brits love to exaggerate their problems

[@vassabatielos4740]

Small fine and slap on the wrist The law needs to be changed

[@lesigh1749]

The law has teeth enough if the police and fire service and courts want top pres it. Arson is a crime. The procedes of crime act allows the police to seize property used in or related to the commiting of a criminal offence. In this casse, the entire plot of land the developers purchased and then set fire to a pub on. Take the lot, leave them out of pocket with nothing to show for their troubles, and then pursue prison terms for the arson.

[@queeniegreengrass3513]

​@@lesigh1749that would require the police to be non-corrupt.

[@unitedkingdomoffiveeyes9765]

This makes me so angry, our history is being stripped away from us and KNOWBODY with a platform is doing anything about it.

[@SK-kh2rs]

*Nobody you bellend 😂 History? Nobody even knew this pub existed or cared about it. It's actually got people into historical buildings. Shout out to the owners burning it

[@Writhty-rw6cy]

The local authority should have the power to now confiscate the land

[@lesigh1749]

The procedes of crime act probably would allow that if they prove arson and criminal demolition before the fire service investigation was concluded.

[@Writhty-rw6cy]

@@lesigh1749 Let's hope the local authority take the path you have explained, I don't think they will have the funds available for this unfortunately

[@christinehughes6397]

People in this area should object to any new development been built on the land make sure they lobby the council . Be vocal dont let them get away with it .

[@martinevans7090]

"Being treated as arson by the police" - The phrase "no s**t, Sherlock!" springs to mind.

[@chris7921]

In cases like this, sometimes it’s not always the company that is corrupt, but council members that take backhanders

[@Charlie-ly9kp]

If a company is giving bribes to local government that company is corrupt by definition. What?

[@Hereford1642]

A councillor is on film saying they granted permission for a partial demolition after the fire. Why so quick? The owners will now say they made a terrible mistake and they are very very sorry.

[@stevendavis2122]

The council taking back-handers is common practice, potential land that is becoming available for development, will be past around on the hush hush to interested parties, nudge nudge, wink wink👍🏼

[@emcarver8983]

If they were taking backhanders then the people they were taking them from ARE corrupt!

[@steveross8364]

Happens everywhere. Quotes put in for council work contracts, the most expense gets it because he's a councillor's mate. Want to arrange a house swap? £500 gets it through smooth and fast. Need planning permission? A bung gets it done. Human nature.

[@robertgraves8843]

Christ! They weren't even subtle about it were they? Property developers are a soulless breed.

[@jamesbyer8321]

It’s emerged the people who did this had done something similar elsewhere. I think they should be made to rebuild it brick by brick. The locals cannot let this go, it’s happening everywhere

[@YOUANDME527]

I blamed marston too, should of done a better background check on new owners who are cowboys

[@colinsace1]

Most definitely arson! Probably wanted to build something else But if I was the council I would make sure they build it back to exactly the way it was! If not then courts and pay over the value of what it was worth! Should definitely be prison time! Funny how it had new owners and all of sudden was on fire and then demolished! Never seen a burnt out building demolished so quickly! A few years back the row of house next to my old house burnt down about 8 or 9 of them totally destroyed we was evacuated to! But are row lucky survived as it was about 10 meters away and path in between both the houses. But I was burnt out shell for over a year (was an eye sore) with metal high fences all the way around it and then after 3 years it was all demolished and rebuilt by the council. So find it very odd it was demolished! Someone was definitely trying to destroy evidence! 💯

[@Criminalsonhorses]

Arson committed by the new owner , the land was worth 5 times more for building alone without the pub

[@keithianlocke]

Locals should get council to see if any Tree Preservation Orders could be placed on site, especially close to the site of building. Land owners are responsible for destruction of trees with TPOs, regardless of whom got rid of it.... Will restrict development too.

[@leahkeyworth]

The whole local community need to know what that greedy couple are planning on doing with that land. Wonder if the land was granted a building licence as very close to a waste management site. If so, I know houses are in short supply, but would anyone actually want to live next to a waste site with its rubbish, smells and constant lorries, especially in summer. I'm sure wouldn't even be cheap housing they are building! Or 2, another waste management site? Seems the community need to band together and demand to know what these 2 are up too, they are a 2 man band on the start of the destruction of a whole community.

[@MixedRaceAndProud1690]

@@leahkeyworth- which greedy couple ??

[@leahkeyworth]

@@MixedRaceAndProud1690 carly and her hubby. She owned the land and pub. Not the first time they did this apparently. Pulled down another historic building and totally gutted another.

[@MixedRaceAndProud1690]

@@leahkeyworth - I shall have to look into that as their names have not been in the media, not that I believe anything they, & some of the local info pages online are saying it was owned by a management company who had plans for a “religious building”

[@SeniorScooby]

Send the new owners the bill from the fire brigade, then arrest them for arson. Finally make them rebuild it as a pub.

[@lesigh1749]

And after all of that, seize the land and pub under the proceeds of crime act.

[@CJV1B3Z]

What a beautiful pub with such great history, this crime should not go uncharged, a true shame indeed.

[@bren2385]

AND CREATING ROADBLOCK TO EMERGENCY VEHICLES.. ALSO ILLEGAL 🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶

[@shark418]

No

[@autumnhomer9786]

🎀The amount of pubs in the West Midlands having “accidental fires” is incredible. Always when someone else wants the labs and building for something else.🎀

[@barendleroux6618]

I'm not even British and I'm devastated. Who would do such a thing?

[@craigmcdonald2110]

Back handers,no respect for are historic buildings.

[@garybrockwell2031]

It went back how far?🆘😢🇬🇧 Maybe they'll build an immigrant Hotel 😳🤫

[@thepub245]

A 5 year old would have rightly assumed this was deliberate arson. Very unlikely anyone will be made amenable for the crime though. Probably no evidence to connect it to the new owner who would be the prime suspect.

[@michaeltagg492]

The council should take a compulsory purchase order for £1.00 and the new owners fined for arson and imprisoned. Sick to death of rich people think they can do what they like.

[@historyhuntersuk420]

Less than two weeks before the fire, the Warwickshire-based property company ATE Farms had bought the pub. Its director, Carly Taylor, is married to Adam Taylor, the boss of Himley Environmental, which operates a clay quarry next door.

[@GJChurchward]

The quarry is used as a landfill site (Hence Himley 'Environmental'), since it was worked out many years ago. The Crooked House site, as you are probably aware, is bounded on both North and South by quite high banks. An enormous quantity of waste could be dumped there. But that would require planning permission for a change of use, and that would never have been granted while the pub was still standing.

[@historyhuntersuk420]

@@GJChurchward duhhh Himley Environment are the ones to blame for what's happened

[@GJChurchward]

@@historyhuntersuk420 Just wind your neck back in a moment. You said they operate a clay quarry. That's incorrect so you need to be corrected.

[@historyhuntersuk420]

@@GJChurchward I copied that part off the sun website and have screen shots of the article

[@historyhuntersuk420]

@@GJChurchward oh no that comments incorrect oh how shite of me what's the difference between landfill and not on Google maps it looks more like a clay quarry than anything both sites look unused but missing the point here all the shite points to the new owners which is his wife and funny if you read enough of it up you'd see

[@wolfe1970]

Council should stop any future development on that site, teach the owners a lesson

[@damianleah6744]

Should be made to rebuild it brick by brick, but I am not too sure on whether this legally possible to enforce as at this point the building wasn’t a “Listed Building “.

[@haroldpearson6025]

It is possible, they did it with London bridge which was rebuilt in America.

[@kobirelf97]

There was also a pub that that got demolished by accident and then had to be rebuilt exactly how it was

[@damianleah6744]

@@kobirelf97 that pub was a listed building if memory serves

[@patreddy1610]

I had arranged for my team's Christmas meal at a lovely country public house A couple of days before the meal the pub was demolished in an explosion. The chef, who recently discovered that he had a family after having been brought up in care, was sadly killed. Although the police had their suspicions as to who was behind it nobody was charged as there was not enough evidence. Sadly someone got away with murder.

[@johnwynne2179]

Nothing new, where i live we had The Woodside Hotel, had been a pub on the site for years, it was closed, sold and burnt down, sound familiar

[@susanwhitley812]

The way things are going I have a feeling we are going to lose a lot of buildings of historical and cultural interest, as our demogaph has been irrevocably changed. Lets hope it can be fully restored.

[@chrono87music]

A fire followed by "Oh no! Now we are going to HAVE to demolish it, ya know... To make the area safe of course" Seems like a suspiciously perfect way to remove a listed building and free up the land. Absolutely terrible, if foul play is at hand here, I hope the full hammer of the law comes down on those responsible. Is it true that the road was blocked preventing the fire service from attending the scene of the blaze?

[@sean2kk8]

I'm not from England but any building with that sort of history.. damn just to knock it down like that, I hope something is done to the owners and it gets rebuilt

[@alanhindle3149]

This happened so often for a time in Vancouver, BC- building bought, promptly burned down, architect drawings for a "luxury apartments" already commissioned- that nobody batted an eye. It was simply understood by residents what was going on. I would not be surprised to find out the new owners of the Crooked House already had plans drawn up for a new building- luxury flats- and even an application made for the insurance to be paid out.

[@jesterwaterwizard2917]

Someone better do something about this !! Listed buildings are protected , where are the police ? This is a crime and should be treated as such

[@spicyskyraisin7745]

This makes me so so sad. Part of history, gone.

[@sonnyirish3678]

This is an open goal for the Police.I expect charges, bankruptcy and long prison sentences very soon.

[@frankie6954]

Start with the council and all the back handers. Why would they allow part of the pub to be demolished because of safety reasons. The pub has always been safe. I think whoever did this should be locked up. But it won't happen. It is really sickening to see what has happened to this building that has stood for 260 years and is known all over the world.

[@sjv6598]

It wasn’t safe after the fire….

[@patreddy1610]

There was a fire at a well known nightclub in the south of England some years ago There was a question about what happened The nightclub was rebuilt and is still going strong today

[@markstonard1962]

not the first time this has happened and wont be last , just here in the south we lost another pub today on the littlehampton sea front , a brighton hotel a few weeks ago, an ancient coaching Inn in midhurst , im sure the list goes on !! money talks sadly

[@sommesoul33]

Oh no 😔 i love historic buildings. They also hold a lot of energy in many cases. I just read it was the Angel Inn. Will read up on its history. This new age of narcissism is destroying everything.

[@oylumo]

The firm that rented out the equipment said the owners of the pub rented the stuff out weeks before the fire, definitely caused by the new owners

[@CSO1]

If it was an old A listed building they cannot demolish. So only way to do it is a fire. Then the owned can build on that area what he wants. That’s if it was an A listed building

[@vangledosh]

So there just so happened to be a fire around the time people petitoned for it to be left as a pub, and after the fire what survived just so happened to be taken down (without permission) as well??? These shady owners NEED looking into.

[@kamiwammy7406]

They should take what's left and recreate the pub elsewhere using what can be salvaged. I feel for the locals. Part of history destroyed. So sad.

[@0rchy]

All contracts signed with listed buildings should state that no planning permission is to be given on its site. This would deter would-be developers from purchasing the properties in the first place.

[@fablan3308]

Well people should have gone to the pub more then would need to close it down People always complain when local businesses have to close but the only clothes because people don't go there They can still build another crooked pub

[@historyhuntersuk420]

If you Google map it it's already stated as permanently closed

[@Markdmarque]

Crooked Owners needing investigation. No Insurance money and they should re build it to how it was and then put the grandfather clock which was allegedly taken out before the fire was started

[@jimsmith1998]

The owner got it burnt out.

[@gregdudds5242]

It’s obvious that it was sold a couple of months ago, it goes on fire, the access road was blocked to the fire service, it gets demolished.

[@user-bu9nb8wr6e]

Planning permission for all works need to be suspended and the pub needs to be rebuilt exactly the same as it was. We can not afford to allow this sort of thing to take place in a civilised society.

[@peteraston4753]

Apparently the bulldozer had been booked about 10 days before the fire

[@paulthomas-hh2kv]

Just been reading about it

[@woodyspooner]

I have been following this story about the destruction of the Crooked House Pub, l think you don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to see that fire was deliberate swiftly, followed by demolition, it was a premeditated crime. By the way, the couple who owned the pub hired a live band a couple of days before the fire, and the name of the band was ... Gasoline and Maches 🔥😐

[@Properkunt]

The local community that most probably didn’t use the pub are now kicking of their pub is gone!

[@NadirAgha]

1:35 I've watched couple of interviews with Stuart Hall. I don't know anything about this community and these people, but somehow he doesn't come across as a honest person to me. There's something weird, as if he's hiding something or knows something. Of course, local people would know much better and I might be totally paranoiac.

[@patreddy1610]

I have just seen the news and saw Andy Street, the mayor, stating that the pub should be rebuilt I wonder if the owners will say that they cannot afford to rebuild it and file for bankruptcy.

[@hayzed9491]

A local listed pub building near me was flattened illegally by developers, word was they wanted to build houses where as the council were going to force the site to be used as a community building. There are now houses built there to no ones surprise.

[@patreddy1610]

The council must have given planning permission

[@hayzed9491]

@@patreddy1610 To build the new houses? Of course they did. Did I say they didn't?

[@patreddy1610]

@@hayzed9491 I was surprised by the fact that the council wanted a community building but now houses have been built Why did the council give planning permission if they wanted it to be a community centre? It does not make sense to me as the council has the last word In my street there was an illegal five bed HMO. The owner decided that he was going to build a new house next to it. Plans were submitted to the council for the new build. As far as I am aware new builds are supposed to be in keeping with the other houses in the street This one sticks out like a sore thumb as it looks nothing like the rest of the houses in the street. We wondered why this was allowed by the council

[@ruthberesford1198]

It's highly likely that A Crooked Fella is going to get some Straight Jail Time.

[@sjv6598]

If all these people crying about the building being demolished had actually spent some money in there, the brewery wouldn’t have had to sell it…

[@tanseygreen]

They first blocked the only access to the pub so the firemen couldn't get to it. So obvious who's responsible he wanted access to his landfill site behind the pub. Severe jail time please.

[@angelsone-five7912]

This happens a lot in the Brum area, one sure and lucrative way of obtaining land.

[@sandragray3951]

I find it odd, Dudley is in Worcestershire, Andy Street is the Mayor of Birmingham and goodness knows what Staffordshire police force has got to do with it, but the more the merrier if we get a good result!👍

[@kenlawrence3841]

Was the building grade listed ? Surly the subsidence would prevent the land being developed , there was a pub in London which was rebuilt after it was illegally demolished , brick by brick , if it can be done in London , why not here ?

[@killachief187]

It's happening with pubs all over the country. ❤ sorry for the loss of the building. Private investors we will not let you ruin our community's. We know. We are not stupid. 😮😢

[@davidhowells-rl9li]

This is the work of property developers! The same thing happened to our miners institute,in Wales because it was a listed building, it wasn't supposed to be dismantled or gutted, but they dismantled it all the same, knowing they would be in trouble, so they were taken to court, and received a heavy fine, it couldn't be rebuilt because the developer had sold the dismantled site to salvage, so he made money from them, plus then they made three blocks of flats? All of which were, sold. So the cost of the fine, didn't even make a dent in his profit.

[@leeyo5494]

ive seen this a few times up north, usually pubs and industrial buildings

[@hedleythorne]

Absolutely terrible. Whoever owns the land needs outing and should give a clear explanation and a public apology as a minimum.

[@teharris4329]

The new owners probably weren’t expecting so much publicity surrounding the purchase and sudden fire and demolition. If they don’t restore the building then there should be a ban on building on this land for next 30 years

[@andreahodson7031]

this happened to at least two listed pubs in st helens

[@TheScortUK]

Force the developers to rebuild it - simple as really. I expect they orchestrated all this, so punish their greed, by forcing them to rebuilt it as it was - rather than a bunch of cheaply made houses

[@paulillingworth1242]

Developers can be known to do this in hopes they can redevelop the plot! They need jailing for a long time, it’s also a deliberate act and it stands out like a sore thumb what they’ve done, make them pay for it to be rebuilt then jailed! Yes they bought it for its terms and conditions

[@Mike-tb5gj]

The new owner of the pub (now just the land on which it stood!!) is a lady called Carly Taylor, who has a controlling interest in a Company called ATE Farms Limited. Her husband (Adam) is a Director and also has plant-hire, quarry and landfill businesses in the name of "Himley Environmental", which is situated next to the site of the now flattened "Crooked House". There is certainly circumstantial evidence to cause suspicion, but there is an answer to machinery being on site so quickly - it was parked next door! I don't think it was a sinister plot!! However, it does appear that, as investigations go on and the fog of confusion clears, we may find that Mr & Mrs.Taylor have not quite followed process, procedure and Council instructions. Let's see what happens. Some reports/locals allege that similar tactics have been used on other sites, but there is not a lot of proof, only hearsay from local residents of other villages around there. Certainly interesting.

[@MhWow66]

Council should put a hold on planning permission, and their "investigation " needs to find out who owned the digger that illegally pulled it all down!

[@sandragray3951]

The diggers were hired days beforehand, allegedly☹

[@RHauto]

The irony of all these listed buildings catching fire right after changing ownership yet the developers never get charged even when all the evidence stacks against them. They know they can get away with it so its rinse and repeat

[@AlM22]

I’m not even from there and never saw it before but I’m sad ☹️

[@Wolfman57]

Total set-up !!!

[@jimboss1982]

Its not insurance job they just wanted to build on the land

[@sommesoul33]

It is insurance job. They set fire to the building (you don’t set fire to buildings to rebuild). They can’t go about demolishing either without permission. They done this to speed up their selfish building.

[@philtrysstrongman]

​@sommesoul33 they don't want the insurance money, they want to build on the land the pub apparently was about to receive listed building status which would have stopped any development. Two of three years from now there will be 40 houses there

[@ashleighgibson3239]

What an absolute shame! People have no respect these days. That building was old as the hills, had a history, story and uniqueness. What does anyone gain from arson? What a waste of a rare, original, quirky building that brought revenue for the town it stood in from visitors from all over the world. What an utter disgrace

[@johnbarker6703]

Strange how the machine used to flatten the pub was hired two days before the fire. Make them rebuild it.