PLANS to convert a 19th century village pub into a private home and build five new houses on the car park have been thrown out by Wychavon councillors against officers' recommendations.

The scheme for the Live and Let Live pub in Cutnall Green was rejected because councillors felt there was not enough justification for the loss of a local amenity and the development would be cramped and not in keeping with its surroundings.

They also said gardens for proposed new houses would be too small and the layout would have an adverse impact on the neighbours' outlook.

The pub owner Jane McGrath had applied to convert the pub into a home and build a terrace of three homes and two semi-detached houses in a courtyard arrangement on the car park.

A similar proposal for the Live and Let Live was refused by the council three years ago and the latest scheme prompted objections from Lovett and North Claines district councillor Andrew Christian-Brooks, Elmbridge Parish Council and a couple of local residents. Another villager supported the scheme.

The objectors were mainly concerned about the loss of a local amenity but Mrs McGrath said the business, which operated as a restaurant with just 40 covers, was no longer viable. There are two other licensed premises in the village.

"We have no real way of increasing 40 covers. We have overheads and extending the building would be too costly. Financially it is not really viable."

A report to the council's development control committee stated the owner bought the freehold in 2002 and had a loss in turnover in the first year. By November 2006 her bank's business manager wrote expressing surprise the business was still trading.

The pub was put up for sale in May 2005 for £560,000. The price was dropped twice - to £525,000 and £498,000 - and by September 2006 there were just two offers - both from a developer.

Planning officers had recommended approval of the scheme was delegated to the head of planning services subject to conditions being met.

After the committee meeting Mrs McGrath said: "It is business as usual.

"Even if we had been granted planning permission we would not have closed straight away. We will wait to get the official report from the council, with its refusal reasons, and then we will consider what we will do next."