News and Updates
STOP PRESS!
We have two pieces of really good news to share!
As of Monday 2nd March, the Hare and Hounds Inn is now registered as an Asset of Community Value!
That’s really good news in our fight to save Old Town’s only pub – click here to find out why it’s so important….
We’ve exceeded our 1000 signature target on our petition!!
Please join our mailing list on our Contact page if you would like regular updates
The Hare and Hounds Inn, the Story so Far……
When we heard the Hare and Hounds at Lane Ends was for sale back in July, the WACA Board agreed we should investigate the risk of the pub and B&B ceasing to be a going concern, so we met with the agent who showed us around.
At the time, we had been reassured that it was very likely that the pub would be sold as a going concern, but we are now aware that it has been sold, and a Change of Use application has been submitted to Calderdale Council Planning Department. We’ve set up an initial consultation to guage support in WACA challenging this (you can still respond here if you’ve not already done so), and have received very positive feedback in the vast majority of responses. As a result, at the end of 2025, we submitted a Community Right to Bid application to register the Hare and Hounds Inn as an Asset of Community Value, as an initial statement of intent to challenge any Change of Use applications.
As of Tuesday 13th January the Change of Use applciation has gone live and appears here on the Calderdale Planning Portal. So now the clock is ticking, with a deadline for objections of Tuesday 3rd February.
Following more than 315 responses to our online survey, with an overwhelming 98.4% support for WACA to take action, we have been researching and collating evidence. We believe we can make a very powerful objection to the Change of Use application, evidencing what we already know – that the Hare and Hounds Inn would, indeed, make a viable and successful community pub.
Thanks to all who attended out public meetings.
About 140 people in total attended, which shows great local support for our fight to save the Hare and Hounds Inn.
Here you can read WACA’s Objection against Change of Use.
Please join our mailing list on our Contact page if you would like regular updates.
If you’d like to get more involved or have suggestions for WACA to follow up please get in touch by email to info@WACAcoop.org.uk