CRUNCH time could have arrived for village campaigners fighting to reopen Cradley's historic Crown Inn.

Representatives from Herefordshire Council's North Area Planning Committee will today visit the grade II listed Elizabethan building, which has now been shut for more than a decade.

At a meeting on Friday, they will consider current owner David Woodward's applications to build four houses on the pub's ground and car park and convert its barn into a bed and breakfast.

But the Cradley Crown Crusaders, who have been running a campaign to both save and reopen the watering hole since November, want to see beer back on tap before any possible developments go ahead.

"If houses are to be built on the land we want conditions put in place that the pub must be reopened before this might happen," said campaigner Sally Ramsden.

Objections

"We will be meeting with councillors on their site visit with our full list of objections to this development.

"We want the Crown Inn to be the heart of our village for decades to come."

A spokesman for the council's planning department confirmed that three applications had been put forward by Mr Woodward, including one for four houses and barn conversion for bed and breakfast accommodation and dining facilities.

"It is likely a decision will be reached at Friday's meeting," he said.

The campaign group, which is backed by the Campaign for Real Ale, successfully helped to defeat Mr Woodward's previous plans to demolish the pub in Bosbury Road and replace it with three private homes.

Villagers desperate for a pint can attend the campaign group's next pub night in Cradley Village Hall on Saturday, June 7, at 7pm.