Future of Chaddleworth's Ibex to be discussed tonight

Ilexanna Ltd has submitted an application to restore The Ibex Inn by providing bed and breakfast facilities and a village shop.
However, in order to fund the pubs refurbishment, the applicant John Castle has also asked for two cottage style semi-detatched properties, a detached three-bedroom property and a B&B unit.
Following meetings with the developer the parish council has now leant its support to the plans, with a majority of residents signing a petition of support and registering the pub as a community asset.
In a letter to West Berkshire Council the parish council states: “We, and the village, accept that in order to get our pub back a very substantial amount of money will need to be spent on refurbishing,” adding that the once thriving pub had fallen into a very sorry state through a lack of investment."
The village has no settlement boundary and is within an area of outstanding natural beauty, therefore any form of development is likely to have to be limited. However, the parish council asserts that the site is an exceptional one “since its redevelopment will give Chaddleworth back one of its community hubs and breathe new life into the village.
“If the application is unsuccessful we feel that the applicant will have no choice but to apply to have The Ibex converted to a private house. Quite obviously this is the last thing that Chaddleworth would want. All the while time is passing and The Ibex continues to deteriorate and is becoming unsightly.”
The parish council says that the applicant has agreed to enter into a legal agreement so that the whole development will be carried out in unison.
However, resident Briony Grose has objected to the scheme on the grounds that: “The blatant purchase for development of residential dwellings by the developer is targeted at maximising profit with little regard to the long term viability of the pub itself.”
Council officers have recommended that the plans be refused when they go before a meeting of the council’s western area planning committee in the council's Market Street offices tonight (Wednesday).
Planners said that the open market housing is only justified to facilitate the refurbishment of the pub, with no guarantee over its long term success. While stating that the proposal provides benefits, the building of new housing in a rural area would not be justified.
If the plans are approved the work is expected to be completed by Christmas 2015.