A DECISION over whether to allow the change of use of the Halfway House Inn at Talycoed has been put off until next week.

Monmouthshire County Council's Planning Committee were due to make a decision on Tuesday, but the fuel crisis forced the postponement of the meeting until next Monday.

Officers were recommending that the change of use from pub to dwelling house be approved.

A petition signed by 68 people and 13 individual letters of objection have been submitted to the County Council.

The grounds of objection include the fact that the pub is an important facility for the community, the loss of an historic inn, loss of a tourist facility and precedent set for other pubs.

In their report to the Committee, the Council's officers said the inn was in a relatively isolated position in the countryside with a public house in a village setting 1.5 miles to the west on the same road - The Hostry Inn at Llantilio Crossenny.

Although the pub did to a degree cater for the needs of the local community it could not be seen as an essential focus for community social activity. Any community function could be equally undertaken by The Hostry Inn. The likelihood was that many locals drove to the Halfway House anyway.

Accounts submitted with the application showed a general decline in turnover over the past five years. While it was unlikely that the pub would close immediately, continuation of the business could only be assured by further personal subsidy and even then the business may start making a loss.

The premises had been marketed as a going concern since March 1998 by Christie and Co, a national company, an had been extensively advertised. The original price was £215,000 which was reduced to £195,000 in January 1999. In January 2000 an offer of £180,000 was accepted subject to contract but the sale fell through. There had been no further offers made.

The officers said it was accepted that the attempts to sell the business since March 1998 did not represent consistent and continual efforts, but it was difficult to see what other attempts could have been made. Although only one agent had been used the agent was of national repute and a full valuation survey was undertaken to establish a marketable price.

The loss of an historic pub and a facility that was sometimes frequented by tourists was regrettable, but could not justify refusing planning permission.

They recommended approving the change of use.

See also Council explain decision