AN APPEAL against the Hart District Council's decision to refuse permission to turn a historic pub into three houses has been dismissed by a planning inspector.

As previously reported, The Bell pub in Odiham, which was originally licensed in 1509 and is one of the oldest pubs in Hampshire, was sold to Carlin Capital when the previous owners retired.

The pub was up for sale for more than two years but with no buyers, developers planned to turn it into houses.

During a Hart District Council planning committee meeting held Wednesday, December 14, the application was refused.

Cllr Helen Tyler, who had been leading a campaign to save the pub, said it was like getting 'an early Christmas present'.

READ MORE: The Bell, Odiham: Residents rally round to save inn from being turned into housing

Carlin Capital has since appealed the decision but following a hearing which was held on Tuesday, September 19 it was dismissed by an inspector on Friday, October 20.

The appeal documents, seen by the Gazette, state that evidence presented during the hearing indicated that the closure of the pub has been "keenly felt by the community" as a pub that has been "used by diverse" groups for many years.

Although it was noted that there are "alternative nearby venues" in the town including the Bel and the Dragon or The Red Lion it was concluded that the venues are more "difficult or impractical to reach".

In the documents inspector Pail Jackson said: "I am satisfied that The Bell provides for the community’s day-to-day needs in the form of a ‘basic’ public house with a simple and affordable food offer at the centre of the village and that these needs are not being met in any other way.

Speaking to the Gazette after the hearing, Cllr Tyler said "the positive power of pulling together as a community paid off". 

She said the hearing was well attended by representatives from the RAF, the Odiham Society, the E3A, the Bellringers, Odiham Parish Council, Hart District Council and Hampshire County Council.

"They described The Bell in the Bury as the glue that knits the community together. It is a place where the different groups and societies come together when otherwise their paths wouldn’t cross," she said.

The Bell is registered as an asset of community value, which means that community groups now have a six-month opportunity to raise the cash, make a bid and negotiate a contract to buy the pub.

SEE ALSO: The Bell pub in Odiham could be turned into housing if funds are not found to buy it

Cllr Tyler added: "We’ve set up a special company called Odiham Community Interest Company to raise the capital to buy the pub. So we have until April next year to raise sufficient share capital to bid and negotiate a purchase price for the property."

The group is collecting pledges from members of the community who would like to support the project at thebellinthebury.com.

Carlin Capital and Hart District Council have been contacted for a comment but the Gazette has not had a response.