Wetherspoons to be named 'The Crown Green' sparks upset with Formby resident
The Crown Green is to open later this year in Three Tuns Lane
A Formby resident has written to the chief executive of JD Wetherspoons to complain about the name of their new pub in our Bubble.
The national pub chain is set to open The Crown Green later this year, on the site of the former Conservative club but, Formby resident Dominic Dickson has written to Wetherspoon's chief executive John Hutson, to complain about the name.
Planning consent was granted last year following long delays after Sport England had objected to the scheme because of the loss of the bowling green on the site but, the green had been out of use for more than a year and there were no funds available for its restoration and upkeep.
Is the new name 'The Crown Green' adding insult to injury or is it an historic gesture of what once was? What do you think?
John Hutson's letter reads: "I have been a devotee of Wetherspoons and regularly go to "The Henry Segrave" in Southport. I live in Formby and I am sure like many other residents we look forward to the coming of a Wetherspoons in Formby.
"I assumed it would be named after someone or something with a strong local connection such as "Jimmy Lowe, the Asparagus King", "Percy French" or maybe "England's First Lifeboat".
"In view of the fact that there was considerable local and national opposition to the loss of the bowling green as part of the development, to name it "The Crown Green" seems particularly inappropriate and insensitive. It is surely not too late to change this."
Wetherspoons spokesman Eddie Gershon said: "We take the naming of our pubs very seriously and spent time researching suitable names. We take on board Mr Dickson's comments and will take his views into consideraton."
After further consideration of the issues the planning officer recommended full approval and the scheme was given the go-ahead for a new Wetherspoon pub to be built on the site and £150,000 to be spent creating a new club on the first floor which will be named The Formby Club.
Work has already started on transforming the building in Three Tuns Lane into a JD Wetherspoon pub with a two storey rear extension and covered canopy. The former bowling green is to be transformed into a family beer garden.
A spokesman for Formby Club said: “We are delighted that the plan has finally been approved. If all goes according to plan we could be open before next spring. The club itself will be transformed. It will have modern facilities for the disabled and the covered canopy overlooking the beer garden should be very popular.
“The private members club will be an attractive new facility for the community. We are now working on membership details which will be announced soon.
