Israeli ‘vandals’ told: rebuild London pub brick-by-brick
The Israeli owners of an historic Maida Vale pub have been branded “vandals” and told “this isn’t the Wild West” after they demolished it without permission.
It comes after Westminster City Council backed last week’s unprecedented legal decision ordering Tel Aviv firm CLTX Ltd to rebuild The Carlton Tavern (pictured, right) brick-by-brick.
“We will not tolerate any flagrant disregard of the planning system,” said planning director John Walker, after the Israeli developers bulldozed the 94-year old building on 8 April – two days after a legal change to protect Britain’s historic pubs.
In January, CLTX were denied planning permission and told that they couldn’t demolish it in order to turn it into ten flats, but decided to do so anyway.
Landlady Patsy Lord said she had no prior warning and only found out when she was asked to move her family’s car on the morning of the demolition.
Deputy leader of the council Robert Davis said: “We cannot live in a city where unruly developers can just knock down buildings as and when they please.”
Maida Vale Cllr. Jan Prendergast said it amounted to the “lawless destruction of heritage” and called the owners “wanton vandals”. Cllr Tom Crockett said the destruction amounted to “theft”.
Last week the owners, based at 21 Bedford Square, were ordered to “recreate in facsimile the building as it stood immediately prior to its demolition”. They were not available for comment.
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