WE are staggered at the large amount of objections to our planning application to convert the pub to a residence.

Parish councillor Stan Jonik collected 134 signatures, mostly from people in Erlestoke village and Victoria Park, Great Cheverell, who object to the planning application.

It’s very sad to think that so many people feel this way and yet the majority of signatories did nothing to support the pub. Each and every member of village communities are responsible for keeping their services alive. If they don’t nurture them they wither, if they neglect them altogether they die. This applies to any service, shop, post office and mobile library, all of which have been lost in Erlestoke.

Andy and I have years of experience in the hospitality trade. I’ve managed pubs for landlords and breweries and Andy and I have owned two hotels on the south coast, so we are not novices.

We have invested heavily in the George & Dragon, financially and ardently, but without the support our business is deemed unviable.

I offered, at a parish council meeting and through newsletters the skittle alley and function room free of charge to every villager wishing to use it for meetings, private functions, parties and family celebrations but it was little requested.

We hosted a grand open evening with live band and free buffet, chess nights with tuition, live music nights, charity nights, tapas nights, a Medieval banquet, Mother’s and Father’s Day specials, New Year’s Eve parties, Boxing day brunch, ladies’ nights, which were supported by only a small core of regulars.

Landlords are mere custodians of public houses. They’re a business, landlords come and go, but the future or demise of any pub is in the hands of its supporters.

It’s not good enough to expect one’s neighbour to support the village pub on your behalf; it’s a joint effort by all.

Erlestoke Parish Council requested the George & Dragon be listed as an ‘ACV’ (Asset of Community Value) which allows the community time to raise sufficient funds to purchase the pub. Unfortunately an ACV listing (which stays with the property even after being sold on) can have an adverse effect as potential buyers are now not prepared to take such a high risk in this already fragile business.

JANET & ANDY SOUTHORN, The George & Dragon, Erlestoke