REAL ale enthusiasts have expressed disappointment after planning consent was granted to convert a village pub into a home.Vaughan and Mandy Barton have permission from Mid Suffolk District Council to convert the Railway Tavern at Haughley, near Stowmarket into a home.

REAL ale enthusiasts have expressed disappointment after planning consent was granted to convert a village pub into a home.

Vaughan and Mandy Barton have permission from Mid Suffolk District Council to convert the Railway Tavern at Haughley, near Stowmarket into a home.

Mr and Mrs Barton who own the freehouse are still running it as a pub at the moment.

Stuart Bowell, chairman of the Ipswich and East Suffolk Branch of CAMRA and one of those who lobbied against the house conversion application, said he would be sad to see another pub close if the Barton's decide to convert the pub.

He said: "CAMRA would be disappointed to see any pub close, although we understand they will not close imminently. We rather regret permission being given because it means they may close in the future and there will be one less outlet for ale, for cask beer.

"It seems strange in a parish of nearly 2,000 that the community can manage without this pub. "Vaughan and Mandy have done a jolly good job with the pub, I have used it and enjoyed it."

Haughley has a pub in the centre of the village, The Kings Arms, and a bar at The Counting House restaurant on the green.

The parish council did not object to the application for The Railway Tavern which is not in the centre of the village.

Mrs Barton did not want to comment in any detail about their long term plans, and had said while the application was going through that they had no definite plans to close but were simply applying for planning permission.

She said: "We are staying open as a pub at the moment. We got planning permission, and people know that."