A HOTEL owner has urged Herefordshire Council to give the go-ahead to developers who want to convert an old Herefordshire pub into a family home.

Herefordshire Council had previously rejected plans to turn the Crown and Sceptre in Sherford Street, Bromyard, into a five-bed home, but developers have resubmitted their proposals.

They have now provided an additional drainage report after council planners said no to the initial application in February 2021.

But Jane Silver, of the nearby Falcon Hotel, told planners that Bromyard can't support another pub.

Ms Silver, who, according the hotel's website, owns the Broad Street business with John Silver, was the only member of the public to comment on plans before consultation ended.

She said "there were no sensible reasons to turn it [the application] down".

"As the owner is proposing to install a filtration system there is even less reason [than before]," she said.

"Please do not turn it down. Bromyard does not need another pub, the ones that are open are finding it difficult, it would only go to rack and ruin and then end up being turned into housing anyway."

Summing up her letter of support, Ms Silver said the scheme would be a housing solution which the town needed.

Turning the initial plans down, planners said applicant Jude Kennefick didn't prove there would be no impact on the river Wye special area of conservation, with phosphate problems plaguing the Lugg, a tributary to the Wye.

Listed building consent was granted at that time, with a design and access statement saying the proposals included the demolition of secondary structure and alterations to others.

It said the building was continuously marketed for sale as a pub for 18 months from July 2016, and during that time there were 365 requests for property details, but there was only one viewing and no offers.

"It was accepted that there are a number of other public houses located in close proximity within Bromyard town centre, and that therefore the loss of this one public house will not be detrimental to the community," it said.

Planners will consider the proposal in due course, but excess phosphate levels in the river Lugg catchment has caused problems with the planning system in the county.