'The building will be finished' on old Jack Russell Pub site

The news comes after fears were raised by residents and councillor Mick Haines that the Marston site was left abandoned.

The Jack Russell pub on Salford Road was once a thriving local, with punters spilling out of its doors.

Neighbours have recalled times when they rallied to the inn for live music, open mic nights and ‘good times’.

Time was called on the fun in 2016 when the pub was closed and quickly became unused and a long-derelict eyesore.

A year later, plans were made to demolish the building and create 16 flats in a three-storey block, together with 19 car parking spaces.

Despite efforts from the residents to save the pub, the plans were given the green light by Oxford City Council.

Now, years later, residents have raised concerns that the rubble at the site will stay indefinitely after news broke that the contractors quit the job.

They said the site is making Marston look ‘ugly’.

But this week, one of the property owners has spoken out to promise that work will go on.

Liaqat Ali told the Oxford Mail yesterday: “If people and residents have any questions or queries that can ask me directly.

“I am always on the site, I’ve owned it for four years."

He wen on: "The building will be completed.

"I want to get it done as quickly as possible, and it will be done."

The Jack Russell Pub is one of five in Marston to have shut its doors forever over the past decade.

It joins the Friar on Old Marston Road which was demolished; The Bricklayers Arms on Church Lane, which was converted; The White Hart on Oxford Road, which was revamped into more flats and The Three Horseshoes on Oxford Road which was converted into a house.

Marston resident Chris Watkins said it was ‘gutting’ that so many pubs had closed.

He said: “We’ve lost this pub but it’s not the only one. If you look at the roads you can see how many pubs we have lost.

Other stories from the area:

Man leaves note of thanks in shop window

Mystery after post office closure

Old woman knocked to ground by reversing car at bus stop

Pub goers hit out at funny new sign

“I am just gutted this place is gone.We seem to be losing all the assets. I was a barman there for four years, it is where I met my wife."

He added: “I wrote a letter to the council in my disgust, I know they need housing, but where the duty of care?

"All these houses and everybody is living on top of each other with nowhere to go and nothing to do."