A COMMUNITY battle to save The Railway Inn at Fourstones has taken a new turn.

The Railway closed in 2015 and was was put on the market for £150,000 by owner Geoffrey Smart.

But it was not sold, and now Mr Smart has submitted a change of use planning application to turn the pub into a six-bedroom house.

It comes five months after the Fourstones Community Ventures group claimed to have made an offer of £50,000 to buy the premises in November last year.

At the time, members of the group said the pub required further investment of £100,000 to make it safe, habitable and secure.

The planning application has been met with 26 representations from objectors, stating that the Railway was a valued asset, and should be retained for use as a pub and tourism hub for the community.

A statement accompanying the planning application said the Railway closed due to declining custom, with a yearly turnover of £35,000.

The statement added: “The community was afforded every opportunity to purchase the existing asset, and even offered the premises at zero rent. This offer was not taken up by any party.”

However, local parish councillor Steve Heminsley said: “There have been attempts by different parties, including the community, to purchase the Railway.

“People have attempted to buy it or to lease it, but nothing has materialised.

“The objections which have been submitted demonstrate the strength of feeling within the community here.

“We all want to the Railway to be retained as a pub, and we don’t want to lose it as a village asset.”