THE future of the only remaining pub in West Wickham is expected to be decided by a planning inspector within a matter of weeks.

Plans to change the use of The White Horse from a public house to a dwelling were put before the inspector at a planning inquiry last week and a number of people spoke for and against them.

South Cambridgeshire Council (SCDC) rejected the plans last year after strong protests from villagers, following the purchase of it by a Mr Phillip Jordan.

One of those to speak out in favour of The White Horse remaining a pub was south Cambridgeshire councillor Vicky Ford.

She said: "It's SCDC policy to protect village facilities such as pubs and post offices and during the appeal we heard from many local residents about the history of The White Horse and how in the past it has been a very valued part of local life.

"West Wickham is a very isolated village with very poor bus and transport links and the pub in the past has been a focal point for many local people.

"That's why I spoke to support the pub but also to make the point that all the countryside villages in the area between Haverhill and Cambridge are stuck in between two very rapidly growing towns and there are many people who want to be able to get out of the town and into the countryside."

A war of words soured discussions between Save The White Horse action group and Mr Jordan in 2006.

The owner offered to sell it to a potential buyer, but for £50,000 above its value and he also warned anyone looking to take it over that they 'would have to be someone who would be willing to risk their money on a pub that has in the last 12 years seen a succession of failed businesses, bankruptcies and financial hardship.'

However, the future of the pub looks bright following the meeting, with Cllr Ford confident the inspector will uphold the council's decision to reject Mr Jordan's plans.

She also said there were two interested parties at the meeting who would like to re-open it as a pub.

After the inquiry, Mr Jordan said: "We made our case very strongly, we presented it as well as we could and it's in the hands of the inspector now so we shall just wait and see."

derek.bish@haverhillecho.com