Further to the 25 January news item EHDC refused the application to redevelop the Star on 4 February. Sorry for the delay in putting this out. The decision reads as follows:

'The Planning Authority REFUSES Planning Permission for the following reason(s): 1 The public house is a local community facility. The submitted marketing evidence demonstrates that offers have been made for the premises that would secure the retention of the pub. The proposal would consequently result in the unjustified loss of the community facility to the detriment of the social and economic well-being and quality of life of the community, contrary to policies CP1 and CP16 of the East Hampshire District Local Plan Joint Core Strategy and the advice contained in section 8 of the National Planning Policy Framework.'

This is a very good result and although it may not be the end of the story we understand that a serious buyer with plans to continue operating the Star as a public house has made an offer in line with an independent valuation that was apparently in line with what the owners were seeking in their marketing.