WHILE I live in Kempley I do have a house in Ledbury and am very familiar with the community as a whole in the area. I feel I must write and comment on the ongoing attempts to keep the village pub open in Brooms Green (The Horseshoe Inn).

To my knowledge this pub has been unviable for a number of years now, substantiated by the fact that after extensive marketing as a pub - no buyers came forward!

Surely the local community is missing a big opportunity to transfer the focal point of its attention to the village hall, which after all is there because of a huge local effort and vital sponsorship from the lottery fund. The hall can be licensed for drinks as necessary and the income generated will help guarantee the future of the village hall.

Other villages such as Kempley have lost its access to the local pub but it has a vibrant village hall that is well supported.

My message to Brooms Green is to get behind your impressive village hall and stop flogging a dead horse ... shoe.

A PERRY, Kempley, nr Dymock.