VILLAGERS in Long Newton banding together in a bid to buy The Vane Arms have already pledged nearly a quarter of a million pounds to the cause in a little over two weeks.

“The response has been incredible,” said retired firefighter Nigel Dennison, one of the founder members of the steering group behind the ambitious plan, which would see the venue become the first community pub on Teesside.

“The financial commitments people have been prepared to make has exceeded all our expectations.”

Just over a year has passed since the campaign was launched to “Save The Vane” from being turned into housing.

The pub has been part of the village – just off the A66 between Darlington and Stockton – since the 18th Century, but it has been boarded up since August 2019.

A public meeting, weeks before the first national lockdown, attracted 120 residents, and a not-for-profit limited company – The Long Newton Community Hub Ltd – was established as a result.

The company was accepted as a member of the Plunkett Foundation, specialists in helping communities take control of local pubs. Then, Stockton Borough Council categorised the pub as an “asset of community value”.

Now, the campaigners have cleared the biggest hurdle so far when the council’s planning committee rejected the housing development plan put forward by the pub’s owner, Andrew Abbott, by 12 votes to 1. That was despite planning officers recommending it for approval.

As a result, the campaigners have been informed there may now be a deal on the table, subject to valuation and a survey. The group has a commercial valuation expert ready to go, and is hoping the owner will allow this to happen soon.

Community shares are being offered at £1 each, with a minimum investment required of £500, and pledges so far total £231,000. The target is to reach £250,000 by June, so an application can be made for match-funding through the Government’s community ownership fund.

“We are very confident we’ll get to the £250,000 mark and be in a position to make a really strong case,” said Mr Dennison.

“Even people who’ve moved into the village since we started the campaign have made pledges because they’ve been moved by the strength of community spirit, and can see how important having the pub will be in bringing everyone together post-Covid.”

The intention is for The Vane to not only be a viable pub but a community hub, with a shop, and an allotment with disabled access behind the beer garden that has stunning views out the back.

“We see it as being a place where all generations can come, and it will play such an important role in boosting people’s mental health,” said Helen Jones, another steering group member.

What is happening in Long Newton is also being watched closely in other parts of the Tees Valley because it is seen as a potential blueprint for other pubs to become community owned.

“Lockdown has underlined how much people have missed local pubs, and it’s added to loneliness for some people, so what’s happening at Long Newton is really interesting,” said Steve Matthews, chairman of the parish council at Carlton – home to The Smith’s Arms.

“Villages around the country have died because they’ve lost the focal point of their local pub, so coming up with a formula to save them is really important.”

Mr Dennison said he’s more confident than ever that the dream of putting The Vane Arms into the ownership of the local community will become a reality.

“There’s a lot to be done but, with a bit of luck, we could be in there, celebrating the success of the campaign by Christmas,” he said.