FINAL submissions have been made in a planning appeal, which could see new homes build on the site of a former Acton Bridge pub.

The Maypole closed last year following the death of much-loved landlord Keith Morris, who had run the pub with wife Brenda since 1984.

Mrs Morris was then released from the tenancy by Punch Taverns following a ‘gradual drop-off in trade’, which prompted plans to sell the pub to developers to build three new homes.

The plans were opposed by residents and rejected by Cheshire West and Chester Council in November, with planning officers citing harm to the character of the countryside.

The report added: “In this case, the loss of the pub as a community facility would have an adverse impact on the quality of life, health and well-being of residents, business and visitors alike.

“It is considered that insufficient information has been provided to show that the business cannot be sustained either in its current use or in an alternative manner, including by the local community.

“In addition, the proposed new residential development would amount to inappropriate development in the greenbelt, for which very special circumstances have not been demonstrated.”

But an appeal was lodged against the decision, saying the plans constituted brownfield development, and would ‘respect the heritage setting of the Maypole and the surrounding area’.

It also cited a previous decision where, less than 100 yards up Hill Top Road, infill development for one home was approved on appeal.

Punch Taverns has also submitted evidence of the pub’s £18,000 loss in 2017/18, along with a letter from Mrs Morris in which the landlady explained the ‘difficult decision’ to close the pub with it being ‘no longer a viable business’.

She wrote: “I support this proposal on the basis that the operation of a pub here has become unsustainable.

Over the last few years I have seen a gradual drop off in trade. I have done my best to build trade to a sustainable level but this has not delivered what is required here to allow a pub operation to continue.

“Rising costs such as wages and business rates have undermined any improvements that I have tried.

“Although the pub has been my home for so long I genuinely believe that the best option is now to redevelop the site to create some much-needed local housing.”

The case will be decided by the government’s planning inspectorate in the coming months.