ILLEGAL demolition was thought to have begun on The Porcupine site today (May 29) but turns out to have been a company disconnecting the gas supply.

The @PorkyMottingam Twitter account posted a picture this morning which appeared to show work going on at the pub and said: “This is illegal and happening now.”

Lewisham councillor Liam Curran, whose ward is Sydenham and is known as @CllrCurran on the social networking site, said: “Unlawful demolition of Porcupine pub has begun! Plsestopit!”

Bromley Council sent an enforcement officer to the site in Mottingham Road to investigate but later confirmed the company was simply cutting off the gas supply to prevent the site incurring unnecessary bills.

Documents released last week showed prior approval would need to be sought before demolition could begin on the area which now belongs to Lidl.

Public outcry followed the pub's closure in March with politicians such as Bromley and Chislehurst MP Bob Neill lending his support to the Save the Porky campaign.

For more information, see this article.