PLANS to convert part of a village pub into two homes have sent ‘a real ripple of dismay’ around one South Hams community.

The Crooked Spire in Ermington is treasured by locals as the last real village hub, following the closure of the post office and shop several years ago.

Villagers got the pub designated as an Asset of Community Value under the Localism Act 2011, and accordingly owner Enterprise Inns had to notify South Hams Council that it intended to sell in 2013.

A well-organised group of villagers found strong support for the idea of a community pub, and put together a bid after working hard to secure funding and raise money locally.

However, earlier this year, and as locals were ‘on the verge’ of buying the pub, a private buyer swooped. Eric Cahill kept the pub open with the same landlord in place, and locals were apparently told he would wait a year and see what happened.

The plans recently received by South Hams Council would see ‘redundant’ and underused parts of the pub and landlord’s accommodation transformed into two new dwellings, with an overall reduction in the pub’s floorspace of 140 square metres.

Read more in the Ivybridge & South Brent Gazette