Pub owner refutes closure claims (From Free Press Series)

Pub owner refutes closure claims

THE owners of a rural public house have won their fight to convert their restaurant into a three bedroom house, but they are still open for business.

Guiseppe and Susan Scarpeta, who own the Charthouse at Llanfihangel Gobion, submitted an application to change the use of the public house, despite a petition and plea from local councillors.

Mrs Scarpeta said: "We are still open and we will stay open for as long as our customers want us to."

She denied that the premises has already been sold.

The Charthouse, previously known as The Herbert Arms has a long history as a public house but has been operated primarily as a restaurant in recent years.

At a Monmouthshire County Council planning meeting last week members voted to grant planning permission.

At the meeting head of planning, George Ashworth, told members that the owners were not seeking to close the premises.

Cllr Brian Hood spoke at the meeting which split members and argued that the premises are still used as a pub and that Gobion is classed as a village.

"Tourism is vital to this community. This county is desperate for quality eating houses in this county."

Cllr Mike Smith said in support of the application: "I understand the applicants are having some difficulty sustaining it as a restaurant. I move that it is approved."

Cllr Chris Woodhouse told members: "We have a duty to try and preserve the fabric of the community. Everything that was good about Monmouthshire is being lost."