CONCERNED residents have united to save their village pub from being converted into housing.

The Rising Sun pub in Woodcroft was closed in October 2011 and purchased by Worthy Developments towards the end of 2012.

The group has applied for the Rising Sun to be nominated as an asset of community value under the Localism Act 2011.

If this is accepted then the group will be given time to come up with a bid for the asset when it is sold, however the right to bid only applies when an asset's owner decides to dispose of it.

Chair of the 'Save Our Sun' committee, Michelle Hayes, said: "We have over a thousand signatures on our petition against development into a residential property and also supporting a community-run industrial and provident society.

"Worthy Development bought the pub in late 2012. They are of the impression that the community was disinterested in the pub as we didn't buy it when it was up for sale.

"The actual reason for this was it was almost bought by another party to run it as a pub. This fell through and when enquiries by the community were made to the estate agents, they informed us that the Rising Sun had been sold with the intention for it to be run as a public house, which is what the community wanted.

"When it became apparent this was not the case, we formed a group to oppose development and to try to save our local pub.

"We have offered the developers a price above what they paid, and despite suggesting that they are community men, they have refused the offer and have told me they intend to develop the property and are submitting a planning application."

Matt Smith, director of Worthy Developments, said: "We are planning to develop the pub for residential use by making two semi-detached houses. The interesting thing about this is that the pub was on the market for nearly 12 months and no-one had bought it.

"We facilitated them [Save our Sun committee] to look around the pub and they offered us £2,500 less than what we paid for it.

"I'm a great believer in pubs that they should be used all year round and not just for Christmas."

The Forest of Dean District council will decide at their Cabinet meeting on Thursday 12th December as to whether or not the Rising Sun will be nominated as an 'asset of community value'.