Inspector: London Town must retain village pub

A planning inspector has told London Town that a pub is too important to its village to turn into a house.

London Town appealed against the decision of Bromsgrove District Council not to allow the pub to be turned into a house. The government's planning inspectorate reviewed the decision but has dismissed an appeal by London Town. The planning inspectorate said that the main issue would be whether the change of use to a dwelling would be harmful to the "sustainability and vitality" of the village community.

The decision means current landlords of the Red Lion, in Bromsgrove High Street, Richard and Mini Scott, are now set to re-open the Dodford Inn in Dosford pub two years after its closure. The couple have met with London Town to discuss repair work - an end of April re-opening in on the cards.

The Save The Dodford Inn Group campaigned hard against the change-of-use application from London Town that sought to turn the pub into a private property. Stephen Bowden, from the group, said the appeal being dismissed was "good news at last."

He said: "The Planning Inspectorate made their decision essentially based on the significance of the pub to Dodford village life."