Council rejects plans to shut Holbeach St Johns pub for good

Council planners have rejected a bid to turn a village pub into housing.
Residents had fiercely opposed the proposal for the Plough Inn in Jekils Banks, Holbeach St Johns.
South Holland District Council refused the application, saying that landlord Ian Osborn had not demonstrated that the business was not financially viable or marketed the pub for sale.

The council's decision notice explained that the proposal was 'unacceptable' according to the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan.

It said: "The loss of the public house would not help 'sustain existing facilities' and would not support the village's 'role as a service centre for the settlement itself'."

It added: "Furthermore, financial records have not been provided to demonstrate that the business is not financially viable and it is not considered that it has been satisfactorily demonstrated that the premises is unfit for purpose or surplus to requirements."

The decision notice also added: "Additionally, no marketing exercise has been undertaken to demonstrate that no individual would be willing to purchase the business as a going concern."