Archive - Tuesday, 3 February 2004


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Council rules Red Hart must remain as pub

COUNCILLORS have refused to allow another Monmouthshire pub to be converted into a private home.

The members of the county planning committee refused to allow James and Jean Sharp to change the use of the Red Hart Inn at Llanfapley which closed as a pub in October 2002.

The council had received a great deal of correspondence, said head of planning George Ashworth, including 81 individual letters of objection from local residents, 13 from Monmouthshire residents and 53 copies of a standard letter from all over the area.

He said officers had recommended refusal because they felt the Red Hart was indisputably a public house and within a village community.

Cllr Brian Hood, the local member for the past 17 years said: "Most of the time the Red Hart has been run as a viable business, and the objectors believe it can be successful again.

"One of the objectors has offered to rent the pub and allow the applicants and their family to live above the premises.

"There is not another pub within five miles of Llanfapley. I presented a petition to the council objecting to the change and all 70 signatories live within a mile of the Red Hart."

Cllr Chris Woodhouse added: "If we allow this it will permanently deprive the community of its soul. The whole way of life is changing, so I hope someone on the horizon can save it and preserve the fabric of Monmouthshire.

"Bit by bit we are losing our rural post offices and pubs and it is our duty to preserve Monmouthshire as much as we can."

Cllr Olive Evans said the success of a pub depended very much on the personality of the person running it.

In his application, James Sharp said the Red Hart had not been a viable public house for 30 years and there would be no harm to community interest if it became a house because the Llanfapley sports pavilion existed.

He assured the committee that no alterations would be made to the exterior of the Red Hart or its setting, save for the signs which have already been removed.