The historic Ram Jam Inn in Rutland, which is linked with highwayman Dick Turpin, may finally face its execution next week.

Planners at Rutland County Council are recommending councillors approve its demolition so the site by the A1 can be redeveloped.

In February, the Godwin Group submitted revised plans for the 1.67 acre site near Greetham Village , after an earlier application was refused at appeal in 2018.

The company says its latest proposal is more in keeping with the local vernacular and addresses concerns raised by local residents

The proposal to the demolish of the existing Ram Jam Inn and redevelop the site to provide two drive-thru units and one drive-to unit with associated car parking, comes before the county council's planning committee next Tuesday.

As previously reported by Nub News, the proposal will provide 961m2 of retail floorspace, plus 72 parking spaces.

There will also be landscaping and alterations to the existing site accesses from the B668

A report by Rutland Council staff prepared for the meeting says the site is "an area of overgrown open land, a large car park and some mature trees."

It continued: "The Inn has been closed for around 7 years. Whilst it has historic associations with Dick Turpin, it is not listed and has been badly altered and extended during the 20th century in particular."

It also said: "A retail impact assessment has also been undertaken that concludes that the development would not have a detrimental impact on Oakham or Uppingham Town Centres."

However, Greetham Parish Council believes that whilst the appearance is better than the previous one, this is still "an over-development."

Stretton Parish Council has told Rutland Council it neither opposes or supports the latest application, welcoming the jobs and redevelopment of a derelict site.

But the parish council has raised concerns over whether the local sewage system could cope with the extra development, and it notes how the proposals spoke of fast food units aimed at passers-by, when some locals had said they would prefer something like a M&S Simply Food store.

The council report said public consultation delivered 7 letters of representation have been received.

Among the comments raised were the fresh proposals did not address the Planning Inspector's reasons to refuse the previous application and the and the requirements for the historic Ram Jam Inn to be retained.

There were also concerns about highway especially vehicle movements to and from the site on to the A1.

Stretton Pumping station is already struggling to cope with sewage issues.

A previous application for mixed-use business and retail units on the site that would keep the pub and was approved by the council in 2017 would be better.

There was also 'no way' the 70 full-time jobs to be created would be filled by locals within walking and cycling distance to the site, which also lacked a bus stop. the amount of parking, therefore, would not be enough.

The report also said: "There has been opposition to the scheme on the basis that the Ram Jam has historic interest, including associations with Dick Turpin. It is unlikely that there is much of the building remaining from Dick Turpin's time, as he died in 1739."

However: "Historic England has confirmed that the building is not worthy of listing."

Recommending councillors approve the application, the report concluded: "The proposed development would provide roadside services on previously developed land primarily to serve users of the strategic highway network.

"Highways England and the local highway authority has raised no objections to the proposed development. The revised scheme retains the row of preserved apple trees.

"The resubmission is considered to have addressed all the issues that result in the planning appeal for application No 2018.0539/FUL being dismissed. The use constitutes sustainable development and there are no reasons to refuse planning permission."