PLANS to convert a rural pub outside Malvern into housing have been turned down by district councillors.

At a Malvern Hills District Council planning meeting, members voted to refuse an application to change the use of the Plough and Harrow in Guarlford into a house.

Members at the meeting heard that pub operator Brunning and Price is in negotiations to buy the premises, which is currently owned by Devizes-based brewery Wadworth, and reopen it as a pub.

And the decision has been greeted with relief by village residents and the by the Campaign for Real Ale, which vigorously opposed the proposal.

Mark Haslam of CAMRA said: "The Plough and Harrow is on the cusp of being sold to a renowned pub-operator.

"Moreover, bids from other potential pub operators have been made too, but Wadworth chose to persist with this totally unnecessary planning application despite these facts.

"It's a shame that a brewery with an otherwise excellent reputation has been playing games with the local community.

"Now this nonsense has been seen off, it will allow a new operator to buy and revitalise the pub, in the process providing jobs and tourist opportunity to the wider area and provide vital recreational amenity to the community of Guarlford. Common sense has now prevailed."

Guarlford resident Peter Hughes, who has been in the forefront of the campaign to save the pub, said: "We are very encouraged by the councillors' decision to refuse the planning application, which went against the recommendation of the planning officers.

"We are also encouraged by the interest being shown in it by a company that already operates a substantial number of pubs.

"We have always said that the pub has the potential to be successful. It has been very successful in the past, and it is in a good position close to the Three Counties Showground, with all the events that are held there, so we are sure that if it is properly run, it will be successful in the future."