IT is rare for a planning inspector to be so bold but David Metcalfe did not pull his punches when describing how he reached his decision on the future of a Dales pub.

Appointed to deal with an appeal against a decision not to allow the King's Arms at Redmire to be turned into a house, Mr Metcalfe made it clear that he believes the current owners have not given the pub business their best shot.

Planning inspectors are not normally given to making judgments about the viability of a business but in this case Mr Metcalfe has done so and firmly adopted the position of the local authority, backed by many villagers, who felt the owners never had any intention of running the King's Arms as a village pub business but simply wanted to realise the value of the building as a home.

The effect of the foot-and-mouth crisis on rural businesses should not be underestimated, but in some quarters it has become an easy excuse for poor performance. Yes, it created difficult trading conditions for 18 months but it is well behind us now and last summer many Dales businesses had their best season in many a year.

Many village pub landlords will smile when reading of villagers reacting with outrage when their he or she says there has too little custom to continue. Often it is the ones shouting loudest who seldom darken the doors of the pub.

That was not the case in Redmire where the King's Arms was a viable business until its change of ownership.

Mr Metcalfe's decision is a vindication of the villagers' opposition, the original decision by Richmondshire District Council and our much-maligned planning system.