THE Cridford Inn Supporters Group was celebrating this week after Teignbridge Council Planning Committee unanimously refused an application to change the Trusham pub and restaurant to a home.

And on the casting vote of the chairman Cllr Dennis Smith members at Tuesday’s meeting approved listed building consent for Ian and Tracey Nixon’s proposal to carry out internal alterations to the Grade II listed pub.

Phil Brooks, for the group, said it was formed to save the village pub, representing 80 local households.

‘You may be told that local people no longer support the pub. Sadly this is somewhat true. The pub has fallen out of favour with locals and non-locals alike in recent years,’ he said.

Mr Brooks said the group felt the owners had misjudged the needs of Cridford customers, attempting to rely on their high-end restaurant brand known as The Vanilla Pod.

He claimed a recent attempt to re-orientate the business away from being a restaurant had been too little, too late.

Sympathising with the owners’ apparent financial position and desire to focus on The Phoenix, in Chudleigh, He said: ‘we believe these issues should not rob Trusham of its pub.

‘The Cridford Inn is the last commercial building and facility in Trusham and has succeeded as a much-valued public house, with B&B accommodation, at the heart of community life, for 34 years and is listed as an Asset of Community Value.’

For Mr and Mrs Nixon, Mr Weatherley said the pub industry had been decimated with 29 pubs closing weekly.

‘They are highly experienced operators and have put all their efforts into trying to attract customers. In the last 32 days customer visits were an average of 2.7 from the village and over 82 days 1.6. It is likely an ACV listing would be revoked.

‘There has been a net loss in five out of the last six years, a £345 profit in 2013 and the owners have not taken a salary, and it has been backed up by the Phoenix Inn.

‘It is trading 40 per cent lower this year than in 2014 and an independent valuation shows it is unviable. The local community does not support the amenity in sufficient numbers,’ said Mr Weatherley.

Asked if the owners could close the pub, business manager Nick Davies replied that they could close it, but they could not live in it because it would be an unauthorised change of use.

Cllr Charlie Dennis said: ‘The trouble is that once you close a country pub they do not come back. It is a tragedy if you lose them.

‘If they want to shut it down until the right person comes along and makes a go of it, so be it,’ he added.