Parish councillors have voted to oppose a plan to turn Erlestoke’s only pub into a domestic house.

At an extraordinary parish council meeting, they chose to put in a formal objection on the grounds that the village has a lack of facilities.

More than 30 people were at Erlestoke parish church last Wednesday, to voice their opinions on the pub’s future.

They heard from councillors about ways to keep open the George and Dragon, run by husband and wife team Andy and Janet Southorn.

Chairman Stan Jonik said: “We should all be sympathetic to the Southorns, but the wants of the village and the owners are different.

“A pub needs a reputation and, for whatever reason, it has not made its mark.”

The council confirmed it would apply to have the pub listed as an asset of community value and was putting together a petition.

If the listing is granted and the planning application is rejected, the parish intends to seek advice about community ownership from the Pluncket Foundation and the Campaign for Real Ale.

The pub was boarded up for more than a year before being reopened by the Southorns in November 2013.

The couple’s application for permission to change the 16th century building into a private house says it has been run for more a year without making any profit. They put it up for sale or lease last year, but received no offers.

Mrs Southorn, pictured, told the meeting the bank would not lend any more money, unless the property was worth more, and changing the use to residential would boost its value.

She said: “Every day we are open we are losing money. Andy has had to go back into full-time work as an engineer to support us.

“If people had come forward a year ago and told us what they wanted from the pub, we wouldn’t be here.

“It hasn’t worked for us here and I’m really sorry.”

A decision on the application is expected at the end of March.