Local residents from Knebworth and the surrounding area have formed a campaign to Save Our Station Pub, which is committed to saving the pub and its outside space for the benefit of the community, and supported by Stevenage MP Stephen McPartland.

Stephen McPartland MP said, "I am delighted to support the local community campaign 'Save Our Station Pub'. They are an energetic group determined to make the pub the centre of the village community once again with a range of facilities. Losing the wonderful garden area to flats would be a disaster as it is important we have more homes, but we need community facilities for people in those homes to enjoy."

A planning application has been made to NHDC redevelop the Station Pub and volunteers working as part of the campaign action group have delivered information to all households in the village so that local people are aware of the consultation period which runs to 10th August.

Lisa Nash, from the SOSPUB action group in Knebworth, said, "The results of the Plunkett Foundation survey provided strong evidence that the village wishes to retain the pub and social outside space as a community facility, in line with the "more than a pub" campaign.

"The Station pub in Knebworth has a great history as a local entertainment venue which as a community group we would like to revitalise.  We believe that the submitted plans would significantly stifle the activities that any pub would be able to undertake.

"As the Plunkett Foundation tells us pubs provide one of the increasingly few places of social interaction for all, particularly important for those at risk of social isolation.

"The SOSPUB action group are committed to saving the pub and outside space for the benefit of all of the community."

More information about the SOSPUB campaign can be found on their website: www.stationpub.org.uk

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