95-year-old pleads for help after huge pub fire next to her home in Cornwall
Pat Plumbridge from Newlyn says scaffolding has blocked her garden for over two years and she wants it back
A 95-year-old woman has pleaded for help to get her garden back after seeing it blocked with scaffolding for more than two years.
Pat Plumbridge saw her home in Newlyn almost destroyed after a fire ripped through it in 2019 following a fire at the Fisherman’s Arms next door.
Since then her home has been repaired and she has been able to move back in, but a treasured courtyard at the back of her cottage has been invaded by scaffolding which is holding up a cover for the roof of the pub next door.
Walking into her kitchen Pat explained that it looks almost like night every minute of the day as all light is blocked out due to the scaffolding.
And she says that the flowers and trees that she did have planted in her garden had all died, while items such as a bird bath were pushed to the back when the scaffolding was installed.
Pat, who was last year made an MBE for her contributions to the community, said that she had found the pandemic and lockdown difficult as she lives on her own and has no family.
She said that last summer she had wanted to spend time in her courtyard but was unable to due to the scaffolding.
Pat said that she had contacted St Austell Brewery, which owns the pub, to find out what was happening and claimed that four letters had gone unanswered. Her local MP Derek Thomas has taken up the issue on her behalf.
The sprightly 95-year-old said: "It is not fair, it has been here for more than two years, I think it is disgusting.
"I am on my own battling here and nobody seems to listen. There is no work being done and I don’t know when that will start and I don’t know how long this scaffolding will be here.
"I had a beautiful garden here and I used to spend hours here just enjoying the fresh air and my plants. It was my little oasis.
"But all my plants and trees have been damaged and as all the light has been blocked off they have all died. I can’t hang my washing out either and have to put it all on a drier in the lounge.
"Nobody knows what it has been like living with this – every morning I come down into my kitchen and see the darkness and I swear at the scaffolding.
"During the lockdown I was trapped in the house. Last July when it was sunny I wanted to be able to come out here but I couldn’t. It has made me so sad".
Pat Plumbridge, Newlyn
Pat, who will be 96 in July, is well known in Newlyn having previously run the Fisherman's Arms and also singing in the community and at the dementia memory cafe.
She describes herself as "a local legend" but said she was sad that nobody knew how she had lost her garden.
"I have been here 62 years, it makes me sad to think that I haven't been able to do what I want to over the last year. It is so quiet and peaceful and such a lovely spot, but I haven't been able to use it at all.
"It is now just cold, dark and miserable".
Pat Plumbridge, Newlyn
You can see the extent of the damage caused to the Fisherman's Arms below...
Patrick Gribbin, head of property at St Austell Brewery, said: "We want nothing more than to reopen the Fisherman’s Arms and enable Pat to use her garden again.
"We are currently finalising details with our building firm and insurers and doing everything in our power to start restoration work on the pub as soon as we possibly can.
"Our structural engineer has advised that the scaffolding cannot be removed yet, as there is a risk that the gable end wall of the pub could collapse, posing a significant risk to Pat's house and neighbouring properties.
"We've endeavoured to keep Pat updated as often as we can, to keep her updated on our progress, and we'd like to once again extend our apologies for the delay. We will continue to keep all relevant parties updated on the situation, as things develop".
Patrick Gribbin, Head of Property at St Austell Brewery