Pembrokeshire village pub conversion to house refused
Work started in March 2021 but has not been finished.
A supporting statement through the agent said: 'We understand that the property was purchased by the applicant in November 2020 and operated for four months as a public house on the ground floor.
'The property has therefore remained closed as a public house since that date and only used for residential purposes by the applicant. This current application therefore seeks to regularise the situation and enable the properly to be used as a single residential dwelling.'
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It says the loss of the pub to the village will not be felt as strongly as elsewhere as Herbrandston has an alternative venue, Herbrandston Hub, which opened in February 2020, and acts a successful community venue and centre for the settlement's sports teams.
It adds: 'The Pandemic had and continues to have many impacts on people's lives and also their livelihoods, no more so than in the leisure and hospitality industries. With socialising patterns having now changed, many village public houses have found it impossible to continue to operate at anywhere near a viable level.'
Local community council Hebrandston objected to the proposal on the grounds the village has already lost amenities in recent years, adding: 'The councillors feel strongly that the community needs and deserves the Taberna to remain as a public house and restaurant.
'The Community Hub in the village, that is mentioned in the application as an alternative to the Taberna is not a suitable replacement. It is only open part time, i.e. Thursday/Friday evenings, and weekends. It is run by an association of volunteers and is primarily used by the sports teams that use the field. It does not have a food licence, and they have no desire to open any restaurant.'
An officer report recommending refusal said: 'Given the lack of evidence justifying the loss of this community facility and guest houses within the small community of Herbranston, it is considered that the proposed development would lead to a detrimental reduction in the existing level and range of facilities available to Park residents and visitors, contrary to the Local Development Plan's aim to encourage the retention and provision of such facilities.'
The application was refused on grounds including it would 'result in the unacceptable loss of an existing community facility,' and 'the applicant has failed to demonstrate the potential for continued use of the facility as unviable'.
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