Fighting to save the pub (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Fighting to save the pub

10:00am Friday 24th November 2006

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A GROUP opposed to plans to demolish a popular pub will be out in force on Saturday.

Property developer St Modwen wants to knock down the Queens Pub, in Green Street, Upton Park, as part of an £85 million revamp of Queens Market.

The Queens, popular with football fans and market-goers, was originally retained in the new market, but the latest plans show that it will be destroyed if St Modwen gets its way.

The Friends of Queens Market (FoQM) group fighting the plans will be in the pub on Saturday collecting signatures against the move from fans before the Hammers' home game against Sheffield United.

FoQM's John Peasnall said: "The main thing is to support the regulars and fans and bring it to people's attention."

St Modwen's director of development Nick Kay had previously told the Guardian that the latest plans for the new market were well-received at an exhibition in October.

He said: "These proposals show the market frontage extended all along Green Street in a blaze of colour.

"To achieve this new frontage, the Queens pub will now be demolished."

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