WHILE celebrations are definitely in order for campaigners trying to save the Tern Inn, they may have won the battle, but the war is far from over.

With the developer set to appeal, the residents’ group will need to think hard about how they can help South Gloucestershire Council defend the decision to refuse permission to demolish the pub and build flats.

This is because, with strict government targets for new houses, many planning appeals are successful these days.

The fact that the planning officers made the decision that the flats would “seriously compromise the local community’s ability to meet its day-to-day needs” and rejected the application before it could even reach a committee of councillors, would lead you to think that a government inspector will quickly agree with SGC.

But even if the residents come out on top with the appeal, they then face the task of finding a way to open the pub, either through community funding or encouraging someone new to take it on.