THE CAMPAIGN to save the 18th century Kings Arms hotel in Kingsbridge has stepped up a gear, with a petition being handed around the town and a public meeting organised for Monday, February 22.

Kingsbridge resident Rosemary Dunstan has been mobilising the local community in recent months and has begun putting up copies of the petition in shops on Fore Street.

After months of silence from the owners of the hotel - a network of different companies linking back to the billionaire Reuben brothers - replies to letters have now been sent to Dr Sarah Wollaston MP and the Kingsbridge and Salcombe Chamber of Commerce.

Dr Wollaston wrote to the Reuben brothers, prompted by Rosemary Dunstan contacting her over the poor state of the building, in particular the sub-standard guttering. The reply explained their commercial position and how they’d been unable to find tenants to take over the lease, as reported in the Gazette on January 1.

And again in January, Raymond Hayes, director of Bartons Solictors in Kingsbridge wrote a letter on behalf of Kingsbridge and Salcombe Chamber of Commerce to ‘draw attention to the sorry plight’ of the hotel.

Mr Hayes wrote: ‘The hotel is currently looking a shadow of its former glory as the prime coaching inn of the town and its decrepit presence on Fore Street is visibly affecting the otherwise upbeat appearance of the town.

‘When open under a previous enthusiastic tenancy it became a vibrant hub in the town appealing to all ages and offering a friendly family atmosphere as well as a useful and attractive venue for town functions and a hotel (the only one left in the town).

‘Similar hostelries such as the Castle in Dartmouth and the Seven Stars in Totnes have recently undergone transformations to perform similar functions and appear to be successful and profitable enterprises – and we see no reason why the King’s Arms in Kingsbridge cannot be the same.’

The letter concluded by drawing attention to the work the Reuben Foundation does in supporting charitable causes, and wondered ‘whether there would be any mileage in bringing the building back to life through such an enterprise.’

Humphrey Voelcker from Motcomb Estates responded to the letter, once again

casting doubts on the future of the hotel: ‘The King’s Arms suffers because it is not as prominent or centrally located. Dartmouth is seen as a premium harbour-side location and Totnes is going through a similar revival at present with a particular focus on independent operators.’

The letter drew attention to how Bettesworths - the appointed agents for the hotel - had ‘extensively and proactively marketed the lease for a considerable amount of time.’

But Kingsbridge Town Mayor, Cllr Wayne Grills dismissed this assessment: ‘Claims that Kingsbridge is in direct competition with other locations in the area is a poor excuse, Kingsbridge has plenty to offer that is different to our neighbouring towns and villages.

‘Other claims by Motcomb Estates in other communications that I have sighted are that Kingsbridge is not having a revival like Totnes, perhaps if there was a hotel in operation in the town then a revival will take place here too.

‘A bit of investment from the Reuben brothers would see the return of a once thriving hotel, I am sure it can be thriving once more. The hotel has remained empty for long enough and action now needs to be taken, the claim from Motcomb Estates that their agents are ’actively marketing the hotel’ is simply not true - there is no listing currently on Betteworth’s website, the future of the hotel must be that of a hotel. I intend to attend the meeting on 22nd and look forward to hearing other’s views.’

The public meeting to ‘Save the Kings Arms’ will be held on Monday, February 22 at 6pm, at the Crabshell in Kingsbridge - speakers will be announced later and an open discussion will follow.