'Search for human remains' to start at 'eyesore' Aintree pub before demolition

The fate of a much-loved Merseyside pub could soon be sealed, but not before archaeologists have finished their search for possible human remains.

The Old Roan in Aintree village has been closed for more than a decade, lying empty and increasingly dilapidated since its doors shut in 2013.

Once a bustling local hub, the pub has become a source of frustration for residents, with former owners Commercial Realty Ltd slapped with a £16,000 fine in 2020 for failing to carry out basic repairs. It comes after a man brutally kills a woman on first date and leave her body parts around town.

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Locals say the building is now little more than an eyesore. Julie, who has lived in the village all her life, calls the area "the Old Roan" herself.

She said: “It needs to be knocked down because this has been going on for too long now. I’d rather look at a bulldozer working every day than an old building falling to bits. It’s an absolute eyesore. Everyone around here just wants to see some action now because all the planning applications have been approved, so why hasn’t the work started?”

The Old Roan has a long history, first appearing in records in 1798, though the current building dates back to 1890, the ECHO reports. It’s considered a non-designated heritage asset, with its roots in a mid-18th century public house and smithy that once stood on the site.

2M Developments Ltd acquired the building in 2021 and applied to Sefton Council in 2023 to replace it with a three- to four-storey apartment block. Plans were later scaled back to three storeys and approved last October, but construction has yet to start.

Now, the latest planning documents reveal why. A new application includes a draft “written scheme of investigation” from Archaeological Research Service Ltd, detailing how the site will be examined for historical remains.

The report, submitted on August 13, states: “The archaeological watching brief will provide mitigation for the impact the planned works may have on possible buried remains associated with the mid-18th century public house and smithy that occupied this site prior to the Old Roan Public House.”

Residents are hoping the investigations will be quick, and that finally, after more than a decade of waiting, the derelict landmark can be replaced with something that brings life back to the village.

During this time, local residents have been eager to hear about how the plans are progressing as there’s been no construction work done in the ten months since the proposal was recommended by Sefton Council’s planning committee.

A new planning application adjoined to the previous proposals and specifically addressing the following "reserved conditions" relating to "historic buildings", "archaeology", "refuse" and cycle parking.

One of these conditions stated: ”No development or site clearance shall commence until a written scheme of investigation for archaeological work has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.”

The latest application included a draft "written scheme of investigation" by a company called Archaeological Research Service Ltd. (ARS). Within it’s report submitted on August 13, ARS wrote: “The archaeological watching brief will provide mitigation for the impact the planned works may have on possible buried remains associated with the mid-18th century public house and smithy that occupied this site prior to the Old Roan Public House.”

It added: “Should human remains, structures or deposits of archaeological interest be uncovered during the fieldwork, the Planning Archaeologist to the LPA will be consulted on the acceptable course of action.

“It is anticipated that this will entail the archaeological investigation, recording and recovery of artefacts/samples and other remains.”