FEARS are growing over the future of Oldbury amid rumours that the recently-sold Ship Inn could be torn down to make room for a major housing estate.

After more than a year-and-a-half on the market, the Ship Inn has finally been snapped up by an unknown buyer and is earmarked for closure on September 5.

The pub, which has struggled to rival the popular Anchor Inn, was originally due to shut down on August 14 but the closing date was pushed back.

It is unclear what the new owner intends to do with the building, but the village is rife with rumours that the Ship Inn could be demolished and the land turned into a housing estate.

Parish Cllr Glynn Poole said there was talk of a development on a scale never seen before in Oldbury.

"Another local amenity, the Ship Inn, will cease trading and sink beneath the waves," he said.

"It is anticipated that the buyer of the property will demolish the pub and develop the site with housing, possibly of a density not yet seen in Oldbury."

He added: "There has been very little local interest in trying to retain the premises either as is or for uses other than housing."

The Ship Inn was under offer for months but the Gazette understands it eventually sold at an asking price of £275,000.

The pub was taken over by new managers, only known as Kevin and Jackie, in February. They have been given notice to vacate the property.

Parish council chairman Barry Turner said he had met with the owner's agent Stewart Rackham, from Pegasus Planning Consultants.

The council has also received an email from the firm asking its members’ opinion on potential plans for the Ship Inn.

He said: "There has been a lot of rumours flying around. The council is not in favour of the pub being knocked down. We feel the façade should be maintained. Any proposal should not have an overbearing impact on adjacent properties."

The Ship Inn’s garden is on the site of an Iron Age fort so permission from Natural England, he said, would have to be granted if anything was to be built there - something the council would not be prepared to approve.

He added: "The development should generate a community benefit. If there was a proposal that would give an opportunity for jobs or accommodation we would have to consider it."

Matthew Riddle, South Gloucestershire Councillor for the Severnside area, said: "The site is outside the Village Development Boundary and the back garden has Ancient Monument status as the land is part of Oldbury’s Iron Age Fort. It will be a great pity if the village loses one of its two pubs and its only skittle alley."

Pegasus Planning said it was considering a number of development options at the moment and would discuss them with both parish councillors and residents.