All roads lead to The Highway
by Rob Smith

Amidst the rubble of demolition and tearing down of Pye Bank and Woodside, I went and spoke to Paul and Cathy Stead who have been running The Highway public house for over fifteen years. Paul, the landlord, informed me that although the property is on Council land they have bought the 99 year lease.

“It is a free house and I took it over from my father. Although on council land the 99 year lease still has a considerable amount of years left.” Aware that the maisonettes and houses directly around him are being demolished, Paul and his family have no plans to sell or move. And why should they – being in a prime trade, on prime land, in a building with a business that should one day be a asset right where it is.

“To be honest Rob, we can’t afford to move, having now found ourselves in financial difficulties. The demolition has come on top of the decline of this estate, that has forever been allowed. Throughout this, I’ve had to pay the same amount of business rates as they do in the city centre and my business has been going under by the day.”

Highway needs the people’s help

Paul showed me a recent letter from Councilor Steve Jones who has attempted to intervene in a plea for compensation on behalf of the family, whose business has surely suffered. This plea was turned down by the Council, and Paul and Cathy Stead are facing a hard struggle for survival.

Fighting to stay open

“Most of the recent décor and upkeep has been done by regular long-standing customers and community members who come here and want to keep coming here. They don’t want to see us being shut down, despite constant visits from the police and environmental health.”

I asked Paul if he was aware there’d been talk of creating a park after the demolition, and that would make this pub a worthwhile investment. He admitted to not having heard any of this, but stressed for his family business to survive and reach any period of transition they’d need some sort of miracle. “Or maybe support from our New Deal for Communities,” I dared to suggest.