A Wiltshire village has made a bid to save an Indian restaurant that has become a pillar of the community.
With many cafes and pubs in the area around the Wiltshire village of Box in “demise”, local residents and councillors have banded together to formally protect The Bengal Bear on High Street.
The Parish Council has applied to Wiltshire Council to request to have the hostelry designated as an Asset of Community Value (ACV).
In a letter supporting the application, a spokesperson for the parish council said the restaurant “makes a significant contribution to the social wellbeing and social interests of the local community.”
The parish council has said the asset is regularly used by local residents, and provides an important venue for social interaction, cultural activity and community engagement.
With the demise of many other cafes and pubs in the local area, the BB provides a key role in the hospitality offer at Box.
The parish council has said that other popular restaurants require a car or taxi, while the Bengal Bear is in a “very accessible centre location within Box.”
As well as being a conveniently located hostelry, the restaurant is also known as a pillar of the community.
Examples of this include sponsoring of the local Box Cricket club sports activities, the annual Revels festival, and it has helped to fund Stephanie Millward, a Paralympian who resides in the parish.
One customer told the parish council that a fundraiser for Stephanie at the restaurant gathered £5,000, with the arrangements made by the restaurant.
It has also been known to support a number of other athletes, and to have sponsored local actors and musicians.
The current restaurant was formerly a pub The Bear, until around 2014.
Thus, there is a long association of providing a hospitality venue for the community.
The parish council spokesperson has said that the area has lost a number of shops and other pubs in recent years, and that this emphasises the importance of this building as a venue.
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The spokesperson continued: “The asset serves people from the Parish area and beyond.
“It is one of the few accessible local facilities where residents can meet, dine together and build community relationships.”
The parish council added that it also provides its car park to residents using the pharmacy, a “crucial” function for elderly residents.
Another resident said: “The Bengal Bear contributes indirectly to the community as well.
“The local pharmacy opposite has no parking of its own and the Bengal Bear offers its car park to be used instead.
“This agreement has preserved the viability and accessibility of the village pharmacy and is crucial particularly to elderly residents who obtain their medicines there.
“It also avoids illegal and obstructive parking on the A4.”
If the asset were lost or converted to another use, the community would lose an important social facility and gathering place.
It is understood that former plans to convert to residential use were withdrawn by the owner; conversion was opposed by the council.
There are very limited suitable alternatives within the local area that could provide the same service and opportunities for community participation.
There is strong local support for the asset, demonstrated by a petition comprising over 300 signatures.
The Parish Planning Committee, Full Council, Unitary Councillor and local Member of Parliament, Dr Brian Mathew MP are all said to support the case for ACV status.
At the recent Revels festival (Village Fete), a newcomer visiting the Bengal Bear food stand, commented: “How refreshing to arrive in a small rural town to find such a wonderful restaurant.
“We never expected this!”
For these reasons, Box Parish Council believes that the current use of the asset furthers the social wellbeing and social interests of the local community, and that this use can realistically continue into the future.
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