The owner of the Forester's Arms in Egham has applied for change of use, in order to convert the pub into flats, having already built flats in the car park. The Foresters Arms Planning Application, to Runnymede Borough Council contains links to various documents. The closing date for comments and objections was 25th August 2025, though some comments after that date have been accepted, so ACT NOW.

HOW TO COMMENT / OBJECT

Objections should be made on specific grounds. A pub is a community asset, and this one is an increasingly rare back street community local. Unlike many local authorities Pubs are not specifically included in the 212 page Runnymede Local Plan, a key document, but Community Assets are. Please feel free to read the Planning Documents and Local Plan, but following may give a starter for ten.

SUGGESTED TEXT/BASIS FOR OBJECTION

A pub is a community asset, and this one is an increasingly rare back street community local. In the Runnymede Local Plan page 50 in Policy SD6: Retention of Social & Community Infrastructure, it states 'The loss or change of use of existing social and community infrastructure facilities or sites will be resisted'. On page 67 in Policy SL1: Health and Wellbeing, one of aims is to 'Promote opportunities for recreation and social interaction'.

Applicant states pub is no longer viable despite all his best efforts. There are financial challenges in running a successful pub, but experience elsewhere has shown pubs can be turned around, for instance by stocking and promoting real ale. In reality of course, the pub is worth far more to the owner as a development opportunity.

Applicant also states plenty of other pubs available in the area including four in Egham, but also including the Armstrong Gun in Englefield Green, which is pushing it to say the least, being a 20-minute walk uphill.

There has already been additional housing provision by building on pub car park, and I believe pub could be viable and should be retained.

ACT NOW Click on Foresters Arms Planning Application, then 'Please make comments here' link in middle of page, and submit your views, including above points if you wish. Closing date for Objections is Monday 25th August.

Pub closures are not inevitable, CAMRA have done lots of research which you can find in Vision for Pubs on the main CAMRA website.

PLEASE ACT NOW