A PUB in Overton could soon be calling time.

The Red Lion Inn, in High Street, could be turned into a four-bed house after a planning application has been submitted to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council with its development control committee due to make a decision on the proposal tonight (December 6.)

Even after a wave of criticism, including many letters of objection to the notion, and pushback from Overton Parish Council, the application was recommended for approval at the meeting.

It is argued in the application there are other local provisions for if the pub were to change, with other areas being able to provide restaurant and function facilities.

Part of a report presented read: “Letters of objection and the comments of the parish councils assert that the business is viable, however this is anecdotal and is not supported by evidence or further information that could counter the evidence provided by the applicant in this regard.”

There were 29 letters of objection that were received about the report, compared to the one letter of support. The letters argued that the Red Lion is a thriving business, and that the village needs facilities such as the Red Lion.

However, Caroline Wells, one of the pub’s owners, said: “The community doesn’t use it anymore.

"Instead, people are going to chains as opposed to supporting local businesses. It isn’t a viable business anymore, if people aren’t going to use it, then why are they up in arms?

"That is why we have taken this decision, we aren’t being greedy, it is just the right decision to make if the community aren’t using it. People need to come more than once a year to keep this viable. There are days where we only have a handful of customers, and that isn’t enough.”