A VILLAGE pub will be turned into a home after planning permission was approved in a knife-edge decision by councillors.

Almost 600 people signed a petition to save The Mole in Monk Sherborne after council officers recommended approval of the controversial application.

Following a heated debate in which one resident of the village pleaded with councillors to “allow our community the opportunity to support the new tenant”, members could not be split, with committee chairman Cllr Paul Miller using his casting vote in favour of approval.

Councillors had been discussing whether the business, which had seen long periods of closure recently, was sustainable or not.

Residents, including ward member Cllr Tristan Robinson and the parish council, had argued that the business had been neglected by the “completely incompetent” previous landlord, with Dr James Knight, a 16-year inhabitant of the village, labelling The Mole as “essential to the village”.

“The proposal to turn The Mole into a house does not pass policy CN7,” he said.

“It as a pub demonstrates its viability and the new house will be of no benefit to the village.”

He said that a new tenant had signed a three-year lease and was ready to open.

But applicant Caroline Downey poured cold water on these suggestions, saying that the business was making an “unsustainable loss” and labelled claims that it could be sustained as a gastro-pub as “pie in the sky”.

The chair of Monk Sherborne Parish Council, Cllr Peter Boyle, had told councillors that the application was in breach of the borough’s own planning policy.

The Local Plan, used by civic chiefs to determine planning applications, states under policy CN7 that applications resulting in the loss of “essential facilities” such as a pub will only be approved if: “The service or facility is no longer needed; or it is demonstrated that it is no longer practical, desirable or viable to retain them; or the proposals will provide sufficient community benefit to outweigh the loss of the existing facility or service, meeting evidence of a local need."

Cllr Boyle argued “none of the criteria in policy CN7 have been met”.

“I am here to inform you that Monk Sherborne is not ready to relinquish its pub.”

But despite an acknowledgement from planning officer Gregg Chapman that the former asset of community value could actually be viable, councillors narrowly decided to approve the plans.

Cllrs Anne Court, David Leeks and Michael Bound sided with officers, whilst Cllrs Sven Godesen, Jane Frankum and Stephanie Grant decided to vote against, leaving the vote at 3-3 after Cllrs Nick Robinson, Dave George, David Potter and Chris Tomblin abstained.

Cllr Andy McCormick was unable to vote as he had declared an interest as a member of CAMRA - the Campaign for Real Ale - which opposes pub closures.