The Blue Ball, Greenham, Newbury

A 19TH-century pub in Newbury is to be demolished to make way for housing. The application, submitted by Hackwood Homes Ltd, sought to knockdown the Blue Ball Inn in Greenham Road and replace it with eight houses, including two semi-detached two-bedroom houses and six three-bedroom houses, with 12 parking and 16 cycle spaces. The decision to knock down the pub was made by West Berkshire planning officers last month despite objections from local councillors and pub enthusiasts.