The licensee of a struggling, remote country pub has gone to a public inquiry in the hope of closing down his business.
Bill Turner, who owns the Salmon Inn, in Holystone, in Northumberland, stopped trading more than a year ago, but Northumberland National Park Authority has refused permission for him to convert the 17th Century building into a house.
Although only 30 people live in Holystone, about 250 people have signed a petition calling for the pub to stay open because it is an essential focal point for the community.
The park authority and other campaigners say the pub could be a viable business if it was run correctly. They claim that when Mr Turner and his wife Joan tried to sell the property their asking price of £160,000 was too high.
At the inquiry, they accused Mr Turner of deliberately running the business down - an allegation he described as "claptrap".
Mr Turner, who has run the business for 10 years, claims he was forced to close down after villagers boycotted the pub.
He said: "It's strange that all these people never bothered to frequent the pub, yet they were prepared to sign petitions when it closed down.
"Our takings were as low as £6-a-day and that was before the foot and mouth outbreak."
Mr Turner's agent Martin Robinson added: "It's time to face up to the harsh economic reality of life. The Salmon Inn is no longer a viable property as a pub and is unlikely to be in the future."
Villager Richard Irving told the inquiry: "Rather than profiting from it as a business, he is trying to make a one-off profit by selling it. They have run the business down by discouraging people from turning up."
Karen Ledger, of the Northumberland National Park Authority, said: "There are few existing facilities in the area and this would no doubt result in the loss of a vital social amenity."
A decision is expected by the end of this month.