COUNCILLORS have finally agreed that a North Yorkshire pub can be turned into a home.

The landlord of the Boot and Shoe in Thirn has been trying to sell the pub for seven years. A previous decision to reject a plea for the building to become a house was branded as "a knee-jerk reaction."

At a meeting of Hambleton District Council's planning committee, Coun Tony Hall said approving the application would "right a wrong."

Planning officer Tim Wood said there had been no further interest in the village property as a pub. It had been valued at £225,000 and, despite intensive marketing, there was no buyer.

Councillors heard that an earlier application was refused in a bid to retain rural facilities and because it had not been proved the pub was no longer viable.

It was said to have been run by the landlord and his two daughters. But the girls had now gone to university and were no longer able to help.

It had some ten regulars for drinking and the occasional meal. A report said that for some time the business had kept going only through the injection of personal funds.

Coun David Webster said: "We keep getting commercial premises wanting to change to residential because they can't be sold for the valuation put on them. We should consider involving the district valuer in these cases."

The head of development control, Maurice Cann, said the estate agency which had handled the sale was an expert in the field. "We respect the valuation," he said.

Coun Hall said: "I think we had a knee-jerk reaction last time."

Coun David Smith said: "There is enough evidence that the valuation is accurate. There is no doubt the applicant and his family have tried hard to sell this as a going concern."

* New life for village pub: page 18.