A VILLAGE pub will remain as a business after its owner’s attempt to change its use to residential was controversially rejected by councillors.

At a meeting of the Ryedale District Council (RDC) planning committee last week, members voted to reject an application, submitted earlier this year, to turn The Royal Oak in Nunnington into a five-bedroom house.

At the time of its submission, the owner Jill Greetham, said it was not a viable business. This view was borne out by consultants Fleurets.

RDC commissioned a report by the company which concluded: “The Royal Oak is not an opportunity or undertaking that is economically viable for any party who is subject to the norms of profit motivation and market-led commercial costs of finance in the current economic and financial circumstances, nor indeed those reasonably expected to apply in the short to medium term.” It was this report that led to the RDC planning officers recommending approval of the change of use application.

And the Fleurets assessment was echoed by planning consultant Jennifer Hubbard. In a letter to the authority, she commended the report for its “comprehensive nature” and warned that, if the application was rejected, the chances of RDC winning an appeal were poor.

But a number of local people criticised the report and rejected its conclusions. A key concern among objectors was the fact that, though the pub had been on the market for about three years, it was always marketed at significantly above its market value of £325,000.

Resident Steven Jack addressed the meeting and said the pub had been devalued as a business by the removal of its commercial kitchens.

Another critic of the Fleurets report was John Elphinstone of Nunnington Parish Council, who said it showed “little understanding of the local market”.

In a letter, he said: “For example, the Star Inn at Harome is described as a traditional North Yorkshire public house - it is in fact an upmarket Michelin-starred restaurant.”

The situation was made more complex when it was revealed at the meeting that an offer of £330,000 had been made for the pub by Richard Murray Wells of Ness Hall - though Ms Greetham said it is no longer for sale.

Ms Greetham also surrendered the pub’s lease on June 12, and now uses the former public areas as domestic accommodation.

Members of the planning committee were split. Cllr Caroline Goodrick said: “We’ve been here before with different pubs in the locality. It’s [taxpayers’] money we lose at appeal. I’ve got to justify that. If it’s not viable we can’t win. I can’t in good conscience waste taxpayers’ money defending the indefensible.”

But Cllr John Windress said: “I’m still of the opinion that under the right ownership this pub will thrive.”

The public had to leave the room while councillors were informed of the estimates of potential costs to the authority of any planning appeal. Upon re-admittance of the public, councillors immediately held a vote and opted to reject the application.

Planning officer Gary Housden said it had been indicated that an appeal was likely.