Campaigners Vow to Continue Five-Year Fight to Save Historic Caldmore Pub
A dedicated community group fighting to preserve a historic pub in Caldmore may face a two-year wait for a decision on its local listing application. The White Lion pub on Sandwell Street, which closed to the public in 2020, has been at the center of a prolonged battle led by the Friends of the White Lion group.
Local Listing Application Delays
The application to have the White Lion pub locally listed was submitted in August 2024. While a local listing does not provide the same level of protection as a national listing, it ensures that the building's character must be considered in any future planning applications. Initially, the group was informed that the application would be reported to the planning committee "in the near future," but it has yet to be scheduled.
Mark Whitehouse, chair of the Friends of the White Lion group, expressed frustration over the lack of progress. "We received confirmation that the listing had been proposed and was awaiting an opportunity for the planning committee to consider it," he said. "Since then we've heard nothing and despite approaches to other planning officers. We have received no indication about the current status of the application."
Fears of Deliberate Dilapidation
Whitehouse voiced concerns that the current owners, 88 Capital Investments Ltd, might allow the building to fall into disrepair, making it easier for planners to approve redevelopment. "If it gets a local listing it adds an extra layer of protection. It just strengthens our argument that it is of importance," he emphasized. "It can be overruled by the planning committee, but it's a moral argument we want to win. It's local heritage and it should be valued."
Council Response and Previous Victories
In response to inquiries from the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Walsall Council stated that a report on the pub will be presented to the planning committee "this summer." A spokesperson explained, "The White Lion Public House has been assessed by independent heritage consultants as part of the Black Country-wide Local List project, completed in 2021/22. A report on the findings will be presented to the planning committee this summer."
The Friends of the White Lion have been campaigning for over five years to bring the pub back into community use. The building has been put up for auction twice since its closure, only to be withdrawn each time. In a significant victory in February 2025, the group successfully secured Asset of Community Value status for the pub, following initial refusal by Walsall Council and subsequent criticism from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), which labeled the decision as "perverse."
Vision for the Future
Whitehouse outlined the group's aspirations for the historic building. "Our dream is that the building will be brought back into use. Part of that use would be a pub, the rest could be used for other purposes. One bar can't sustain a massive building like that. Upstairs could be commercial, offices or living accommodation to drive extra income. It would be a lot more viable than letting it go derelict."
He highlighted the importance of community involvement, stating, "There's a strong story when local people put themselves on the line for it. If a building like this doesn't have a local group who's pushing for it, it goes by the wayside."
Unwavering Commitment
Despite the challenges, the group remains steadfast in its mission. "We're still here after five years, and we'll be here in five years' time. We won't let it go without a struggle. They won't be able to slip it through quietly at committee," Whitehouse declared. "If nothing happens, we'll still shout about that. The worst case is they let it fall into disrepair and the council says no one is interested in this building so a developer can do what they want to it."
The ongoing campaign underscores the broader struggle to preserve local heritage sites against development pressures, with community activists determined to protect their historical landmarks for future generations.
