Pub to home conversion unveiled

THE owner of a village pub has applied for planning permission to turn the premises into a home as the business struggles to survive.

Sharon Cripps, owner and licensee at the Lion Inn at Little Glemham, near Saxmundham, which lies along the A12, estimates that she has lost around a quarter of her business since planners insisted she remove approach signs for the pub about a year ago.

Ms Cripps said she hopes plans to develop bed and breakfast facilities and moves to reduce the speed limit along the stretch from 50mph to 30mph will help turn things around.

Little Glemham parish council voted to oppose the plan to convert the pub at their meeting on Tuesday night.

Chef manager Martin Pendle said: "Twelve months ago, we were forced to remove our advertising signs. At that time, we told Suffolk Coastal District Council we felt that would not only cause a traffic problem in the village, but would have a detrimental effect on the business and it has already wiped out our lunch time trade."

Mr Pendle said: "We are dependent on passing trade, and without those signs they just keep passing. This is a last resort.

They plan to convert old stable block buildings into three double bedded accommodation units.

Peter Chaloner, chairman of Little Glemham parish council, said: "We have had no shop or post office for some time and really the pub is the last amenity or meeting place in the village and I think we would be very sorry to lose it."

He said they did feel some sympathy for the proprietors of the pub.

The plans are currently out to consultation, but a report may go before the Suffolk Coastal District Council development committee on May 28.