MP STEVE Barclay said tonight he was “delighted” that Fenland District Council had listened to residents and stopped the closure of the Nags Head public house at Eastrea near Whittlesey.

Fenland Council has rejected an application by the owners to convert the pub into houses and build four semi detached homes in the car park.

“It is a community pub which is at the heart of village life in Eastrea and it would have been a great shame to lose it,” said Mr Barclay.

The MP has taken a keen interest in the closure threat and met residents who campaigned to keep it.

A report released by the council details 21 letters of objections from 20 households claiming that the pub is profitable, is a focal point for the village, and is the hub of the community.

Objectors also claimed that closing the pub would destroy the village’s identity and a luncheon club for the elderly would also be lost.

Some villagers also claimed there had been “no significant” changes since a previous application was rejected.

Peter Humphrey Associates Ltd drew up the proposals for the pub on behalf of owner David Lepla of Manor View, Whittlesey.

Humphrey Associates told the council that Mr Lepla was “looking to maximise the use of the site and to generate a reasonable return on his investment. The licensed trade is struggling.” They also pointed out that other pubs locally had closed.

However the council has decided the closure threat contravenes planning policies and with no facility of a similar nature locally this would result in more travel “and there not contribute to sustainable development.”