PLANS to demolish a Hereford pub and build a retail store in its place have been refused by planners.

A planning application had been submitted to Herefordshire Council to knock down the Broadleys pub on Ross Road and replace it with a Co-op Food store, but residents campaigned to prevent it.

In their decision notice, planners said the proposal would 'result in the loss of a highly valued community facility.'

They said: "The proposed redevelopment of the site would result in the loss of an aesthetically pleasing and characterful building that makes a positive contribution to the character of the locality.

"The proposed convenience store, by reason of its appearance and uncharacteristic prominent location on the site, would be seriously detrimental to the character of area.

Herefordshire Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) co-hosted a meeting in March to discuss the future of the pub in the south of the city, and they're delighted with the outcome.

Chairman Paul Grenfell said: "We know the pressures the council are under, but in spite of this we were hopeful they would turn it down.

"We're pleased with it. We think it was an outrageous move on behalf of the company.

"Surely it's against their ethos of working with communities?"