CAMPAIGNERS are protesting against the possible demolition of a pub that they want to keep as a “place for the community”.

The Jack Russell pub, in Marston, closed on October 6 and was promptly sold by brewery Greene King.

It has now been bought and plans have been made to demolish the Salford Road building to make way for a three-storey block of flats.

There would be 16 properties, with six three-bed, eight two-bed and two one-bed flats.

But the Save the Jack Russell group is hoping they can save it from the bulldozers.

Independent councillor for Marston and member of the group Mick Haines said: “[The demolition would] rip the centre of the community apart.

“We do need houses in Oxford but this plan is going up three storeys – it’s going to change the view for the houses behind the pub.It won’t fit in with the area. Almost all the people I’ve spoken to about it are against it.

“The pub used to be a place for people to meet, there’s so little left in Marston for the community.

“IWe’d like to see it used as something for the community – ideally it will be turned back into a pub.”

An asset of community value order was granted for the building in June by Oxford City Council.

It means that if the building were to be sold again, residents could have the chance to buy the building by instigating a six-month moratorium. However, the order cannot stop a property being demolished by its current owner.

When the order was made the site had already been bought by Ali Liaqat. The Headington resident said he had been in discussions with the Save the Jack Russell group, but did not intend to keep the site as a pub.

The 42-year-old added: “They’ve made it a community asset and I’m totally for that for the community and the government promoting.

“But the demographic of the area means there is a need for housing.

“I couldn’t open it as a pub again and get back the money that I paid for the plot.”

The Jack Russell is one of a number of pubs that have closed in Marston in recent years.

In 2009 supermarket chain Tesco bought the former site of The Friars pub in Marston Road. Permission was granted for the building of a new express shop on the site, and the pub was eventually demolished.

But earlier this year the food giant said it would be selling the plot of land after the company announced its biggest losses in nearly a decade.

Mr Haines added: “The only pubs you’ve really got are The Red Lion, or The Victoria [Arms], but there’s nothing around here, no place for people to meet up.”

Activist and garage manager Martin Smith, 52, said: “We want to see the pub as somewhere the community can meet, not just a faceless block of flats.”

The Save the Jack Russell group is asking people to send their comments on the plans for flats at the site to the city council.

  • Go to public.oxford.gov.uk/online-applications/ and reference 15/02282/OUT in the search bar; then click “comments”.