Pelican Pub Owners Face Pressure to Demolish Altrincham Lodge

After yet another fire at Altrincham Lodge behind The Pelican Pub on Manchester Road, Altrincham politicians had to be seen to be doing something to calm fears and they didn’t disappoint.

Political councillor Ulrich Stephane Savary (Lib Dems) took to social media regarding the issues at the former pub and lodge. On 15 May, under Section 78, the owner (Greene King) sent a team to put up fencing around the lodge for security.

Section 78 of the Building Act 1984 allows councils to deal with dangerous buildings. While this provides a legal way to have them demolished, local councillors are pushing Greene King to take further action to solve the problems.

The former lodge is in very poor condition, and it would be best for Greene King to demolish it. This would make the immediate area more attractive to potential buyers and remove the unattractive sight of a broken building behind the pub.

Cllr Dr Kaushik Chakraborty and Cllr Dr Prakash Nathani from The Broadheath Tories also visited the site and said that the council, GMP, and GMFRS met to discuss possible solutions.

However, they noted that the fencing is just a temporary fix and does not ease resident concerns over ongoing anti-social behaviour.

Despite pressure from the council, its councillors, and the public, only Greene King can decide to demolish the lodge. While this will cost them initially, it may be beneficial in the long run, as they aim to sell the entire site, which sadly could lead to the demolition of the Pelican Pub.

The Pelican Pub holds historical significance, having been built around 1930, and on the site previously was originally a staging post for horse-drawn coaches in 1772. It has also been a place where many friendships have formed over the years.

It is also thought many items could have been left that are still waiting to be found in the cellars under the pub as we know it today and with some significance, the history of the site itself is one of the reasons why the last application to sell it to a care home fell through.

Pelican Pub’s Tudor design and the centuries of history before it keeps it alive, the issue is with the Altrincham Lodge which needs pulling down as soon as possible.