An historic Whetstone pub may be knocked down after its new owners offered to sell it to property developers.

The Woodman in Oakleigh Road North is facing the axe as the Noble Leisure Group, which bought the pub in July from Scottish and Newcastle Breweries, has agreed to sell to developers Force Six providing the developers receive planning permission.

The Woodman, one of only two pubs in Whetstone with a children's licence, is believed to have been rebuilt in the 1930s but records show a pub on the site dating from 1826. Records show that a 'beer house' called The Woodlands was on the site in 1826 and the 1881 census records a pub on the site called The Woodman when Oakleigh Road North was called Station Lane.

Force Six want to build two blocks of 26 flats on the site. Thirty per cent of the flats will be available for social housing.

"I hope they give me a flat," said landlady Eileen Taylor, "because they'll be making me homeless with two children."

A petition objecting to the plans with more than 100 signatures has been handed in to Barnet Council.

A decision is likely to be made at the Chipping Barnet area planning committee on November 21 or December 19.

November 7, 2001 20:48