Landlord - 'We are still open' (From Barry And District News)

Landlord - 'We are still open'

PLEASE come back - we're open.

That's the plea from the landlord of the popular Highwayman pub which has been robbed of customers because many people think it has been forced to shut.

The Highwayman is in the picturesque village of Nurston, on the outskirts of Rhoose. The problem is that Nurston faced being flattened because of plans to move a huge aviation repair factory from RAF St Athan.

The plan has now been scrapped, but landlord Derrick Gaynor said since the scheme was first revealed his trade has been damaged almost beyond repair, and things are not getting any better.

"Even though the plan has been ditched, people are still staying away because they believe that the pub has closed. Not only that, but people are still being told that the Highwayman has been knocked down to extend the airport. I have lost 25 per cent of my trade following this failed plan."

The Highwayman was once famed throughout the Vale for its huge 100oz steaks, and was to become the spearhead for a chain of theme pubs based around this one business. But the problem arose when the huge national coverage of the scheme stopped abruptly when the plan was abandoned.

Derrick added: "If we had the same amount of national coverage to say we were still here as when we were under threat, we would be a very popular place."

Vale MP John Smith and the landlord of the blighted pub met on Monday to discuss the effects of the failed scheme to move the Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA) from their current home at RAF St Athan to a green field site.

Mr Smith said: "It is unfair that Mr Gaynor's business has been so badly affected by this harebrained scheme which I believed was flawed from the very beginning and the incompetence of others.

"I hope the public now realise the Highwayman is not closed and is open for business."