CAMPAIGNERS in Halberton are continuing to do their bit to save the village pub from being turned into six homes.

In last week’s (July 8) edition of the Star we reported that more than 100 people had formed an action group to prevent the closure of the village’s only pub – The Barge.

Now a Facebook group committed to highlighting the cause has more than 600 friends, a letter protesting the Enlighten Inns application has been handed to Mid Devon District Council and over 20 people attended the parish planning meeting on Tuesday (July 12) at 7pm.

Those wishing to save the pub have argued that the development is in contravention of the parish plan, the Mid Devon local plan and government policies on community cohesion and will be detrimental to our conservation area.

Speaking at the meeting, campaigner Brian Lane-Smith said: “The Barge is the only pub in our village and it is, since we lost our post office, a central part of our community.

“In our view it is ludicrous to demolish an amenity and build houses that will surely increase a demand for such an amenity.”

Halberton Parish Council voted unanimously to recommend refusal for the proposal and their recommendation will now be passed on to Mid Devon District Council.