THE fate of the Full Moon in Wotton has been sealed with plans approved to demolish the over 150-year-old pub.

A two-year battle reached its climax at Tuesday’s development control meeting, after an admirable attempt from the community to save it through volunteer efforts and fundraising.

Applicants, Woodbourne Homes, based in Birmingham, submitted plans for 10 houses on the Full Moon site in Synwell after reducing their plans from an initial 12 houses which has been deferred twice.

Synwell Community Action Group (SCAG) submitted an 11th-hour business plan in August this year proposing to run the pub themselves, however this was judged not to be robust enough and did not stand up to scrutiny.

Stroud District Council’s Development control manager, John Longmuir said: “It’s decision time, we’ve had this application for over two years and we have given the community a chance to take it over – I just wish we could have done more a few years ago, the situation is regrettable.”

When SCAG announced their business plan in August, the council deferred the decision to allow the community more time, requesting confirmation that the people who had pledged a combined £240,000 to buy the pub would commit.

Speaking on behalf of residents, Kevin Mann, said: “This community is crying out for a pub that they can call their own.

“And it isn’t possible to forge ahead with housing which avoids the trees because the roots run through the whole area, to build they would have to harm them.”

The committee also asked for the board member names for those planning to take over the management of the Full Moon, with the urgency that if the group doesn’t provide robust information they would have to accept the loss of the pub.

Speaking for Wotton town council and deputy mayor, Cllr Terry Luker, said: “The current plans are overbearing and the area they are looking to build in is overdeveloped and cramped, six or seven houses would be more sensible.”

The pub closed down several years ago and a specialist viability report was commissioned to assess the pub’s possible re-opening, Bruton Knowles concluded that the pub was commercially unviable.

Cllr Haydn Jones (Con, Berkeley Vale), said: “This plan has been kicking about for a long time, it’s a very difficult thing to do, but I think it’s to get on and build.”

Councillors discussed the idea of approving the officer’s guidance for the demolition of the Full Moon, along with the principle of a residential development, which Woodbourne would need to revise to protect the surrounding trees.

The proposal by Cllr Dave Mossman (Con, Hardwicke) and seconded by Cllr John Marjorum (Green, Stroud Trinity) passed by nine votes to one.