Violent BNP pub to be bulldozed

Jan 21 2007

A NOTORIOUS pub linked to the right-wing BNP is to be demolished after a series of violent attacks involving guns and machetes.

The Lagoon in Tipton, in the Black Country, lost its licence last week after cops forced brewery bosses to sack its controversial manager, BNP councillor James Lloyd.

The West Midlands force said the landlord had failed to hand over CCTV footage of a fight in the premises, despite him being later shot at with a gun.

Mr Lloyd, elected to Sandwell Council in 2004, had also refused to make written statements to police regarding the clash, which officers only learned about from local rumour.

Cops eventually charged two brothers with affray.

Controversy has never been far away from the tough pub which had become the local headquarters for the far-right party.

The Lagoon first hit the headlines in 2002 when its football team ran out in a British National Party-sponsored strip.

The Tipton Boilers played two games in the red, white and blue kit emblazoned with the logo of the extremist organisation.

But the Football Association later ruled that players were not allowed to wear any strip bearing a political message.

The Lagoon also hit the news when effigies of three Tipton terror suspects were hung outside.

Shafiq Rasul, Asif Iqbal and Ruhal Ahmed were held at Guantanamo Bay by the US but later released without charge in 2004.

The final straw for West Midlands Police came in November when they were tipped off that a man had threatened people in the pub with a machete.

The attacker was caught but no charges were brought because Mr Lloyd again refused to make a statement or hand over CCTV footage.

Police officers claim that he made numerous excuses about being unable to download the evidence - before refusing to release it at all.

In a report to the licensing committee of Sandwell Council last week, the force stated: "West Midlands Police are seeking revocation of the premises licence.

"Jamie Lloyd, being both the licence holder and designated premises supervisor, has repeatedly failed to meet licensing objectives in relation to crime and disorder and public safety by not reporting incidents of serious crime and disorder as they occur and not supporting prosecutions by refusing to provide witness statements or supply available CCTV evidence.

"He appears to have little or no concern for the safety of his customers in general."

Labour councillor Derek Rowley, Cabinet member for Community Safety and Part-nerships at Sandwell Council, called on Mr Lloyd to quit the authority.

"He has not only failed as a councillor but simply as a decent member of the public," said Coun Rowley.

"The police had every right to object to his licence and the brewery had no option but to sack him.

"It was his duty as a licensee to provide police with the CCTV footage they required and he should have behaved as any other responsible citizen would.

"His behaviour has been outrageous and I think he should do the honourable thing and resign from the council.

"The people of Tipton will be glad to see the back of the place."

Planning permission for the demolition of the pub was granted at the meeting and is due to be completed in the next 12 months.

Mr Lloyd was unavailable for comment last night.