A BID to close another rural pub failed, after planners refused to agree it could be turned into a house.

The Red Hart Inn at Llanfapley was set to join a line of country pubs which have been converted into houses in recent years.

Others include the Old Mitre at Llantilio Pertholey, the Halfway House near Monmouth, the Kings Arms at Llan-vetherine and the Hostry at Llantilio Crossenny.

But the county planning committee refused to allow James and Jean Sharp to change the use of the pub, which stopped trading in October 2002.

The council had received a lot of correspondence, said head of planning George Ashworth, including 81 individual letters of objection from local residents, 13 from Monmouthshire residents and 53 copies of a standard letter from all over the area.

He said officers had recommended refusal because they felt the Red Hart was indisputably a public house and within a village community.

Councillor Brian Hood, the local member for the past 17 years said: "Most of the time the Red Hart has been run as a viable business, and the objectors believe it can be successful again.

"One of the objectors has offered to rent the pub and allow the applicants and their family to live above the premises.

"There is not another pub within five miles of Llanfapley. I presented a petition to the council objecting to the change and all 70 signatories live within a mile of the Red Hart."

Councillor Chris Woodhouse said: "If we allow this it will permanently deprive the community of its soul. The whole way of life is changing, so I hope someone on the horizon can save it and preserve the fabric of Monmouthshire.

"Bit by bit we are losing our rural post offices and pubs and it is our duty to preserve Monmouthshire as much as we can."

Councillor Olive Evans said the success of a pub depended very much on the personality of the person running it.

In his application James Sharp said the Red Hart had not been a viable public house for 30 years and there would be no harm to community interests because the Llanfapley sports pavilion exists.

He assured the committee that no alterations would be made to the exterior of the Red Hart or its setting, save for the signs which have already been removed.

Last month the Argus reported that planning permission was given for the Charthouse restaurant near Abergavenny to change its use into a private home.

But the owners, Guiseppe and Susan Scarpeta are still trading and told the Argus they were busier than ever as a result of the publicity.