A POLSTEAD pub was refused the go-ahead to be turned into a home and have a second house built on the car park.This was the second attempt by the owner to win planning permission at The Shoulder of Mutton, Polstead Heath, near Hadleigh – despite legal action and an appeal still outstanding following the first attempt.

By Amanda Cresswell

A POLSTEAD pub was refused the go-ahead to be turned into a home and have a second house built on the car park.

This was the second attempt by the owner to win planning permission at The Shoulder of Mutton, Polstead Heath, near Hadleigh – despite legal action and an appeal still outstanding following the first attempt.

The application went before Babergh's development committee who refused permission .

Babergh's planning officers recommended refusal because there has been no attempt to comply with its condition that pubs must be marketed as a going concern for two years before a change of use is considered.

In 2001, planning permission was refused for two similar applications at the Shoulder of Mutton.

The pub was closed three years previously and the bar was taken out and Polstead Parish Council believes it has already been used as a dwelling.

Last year Babergh District Council took legal action to prevent the pub continuing to be used as a dwelling and the deadline for residence to end is September 30 this year.

Meanwhile the owner has appealed against the two refusals of permission and a hearing is scheduled for October.

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, had objected to the applications as did Polstead Parish Council.

Although the village has two other pubs some local residents argue that it is a very widely-scattered community with each pub serving a specific section of the village.