I would like to give you some information regarding the White Swan pub at Thornton-le-Clay which is in danger of being lost to the community.
Local residents have rallied together to form the "Save Our Swan" group (S.O.S) which, with over 163 objectors to the planning application, succeeded in November 2021 in getting Ryedale District Council Planning Committee to unanimously refuse the application to turn the pub into a private dwelling.
In order to protect the White Swan as a vital asset for the community, the local Parish Council registered a request for the White Swan to become an Asset of Community Value which was approved by Ryedale District Council in August 2021.
The objective of the S.O.S group is to restore the White Swan as a thriving community run enterprise serving the community and visitors to the area as a pub and a broader community hub.
At present, there are no plans for the White Swan to be put on the market for sale but, as it is now an Asset of Community Value, the community would have the first option to purchase and the S.O.S Steering Group are recommending that the community establish a Community Benefit Society in order to do this.
The first step in this process is to carry out a community questionnaire to canvas views, understand expectations and gauge support going forward. For more information and to complete the questionnaire online please visit
https://www.thorntonleclaycommunitypub.co.uk/questionnaire
Given that much of the White Swan's trade was from further afield, it is essential to get the questionnaire to as wide an audience as possible so please can you help by completing the online questionnaire which will be open until 31 May 2022.
