A CLOSED country pub in need of refurbishment is on the market.

The Wheatsheaf, near the village of Whitbourne on the A44, is for sale with an asking price of £225,000.

County planners have previously rejected proposals to convert the closed pub into semi-detached houses, saying there is not enough evidence that the pub would not be a viable business and could not continue to meet community needs.

Applicant Peter Styles challenged the decision but his appeal was dismissed by a planning inspector in June this year.

Speaking after the application was rejecred, Mark Haslam, of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), said he was concerned losing the inn permanently would hurt the local village and affect job opportunities and trade in the rural area.

“It is our view that the permanent loss of the Wheatsheaf Inn should only be considered where it can be demonstrated that there has been a genuine effort first made to sell the business as a going concern,” he said.

“It is vital that we protect our pubs from opportunist developers, for as valued community assets, they provide social amenity and add to the well-being of local communities without any call on the public purse. And once they are gone they are gone forever.”

Marketing the property, estate agent Centrick Commercial said the pub benefits from generous customer areas,a large basement area, and consists of six rooms and a spacious three-bedroom manager’s apartment, plus a big brookside garden and separate car park.

For more on The Wheatsheaf, see ledburyreporter.co.uk