THE owner of the Fountain Inn in North Tawton this week warned the pub could 'close in April', after planners rejected proposals to convert loft space in the building into two flats.

The plans for the flats would have seen the addition of two dormer windows and roof lights to the roof of the public house, which is within the North Tawton conservation area.

Applicant Martin Hann said the flats would have increased income and made the pub business more viable.

But committee members agreed with the planning officer's recommendation that the proposed roof lights and dormer windows would be detrimental to the character and appearance of the area, and councillors voted to refuse the application by eight to one at their meeting on Tuesday.

The application was seen as particularly damaging to the setting of neighbouring St Peter's Church, which is a Grade I listed building and has an ancient scheduled monument within its grounds.

Mr Hann said: 'We are looking to do something reasonable, and there are a lot of buildings within the conservation area that have dormer windows.

'I do not think it is unreasonable to apply for the same on the roof of the Fountain Inn.

'We need to run the pub based on whether we can afford to run it or not.

'If we can keep it viable, the pub will stay open.

'But if there aren't enough pennies in the coffers, it could mean another pub shuts — I know I don't want to see another pub shut.'

When asked by Cllr David Whitcomb on how a refusal would affect the business, Mr Hann said: 'If it is not approved, the Fountain will close in April.'

Councillors discussing the proposals were saddened by the news of the pub's struggles, but felt the plan's negative impact on the conservation area was too large to ignore.

Cllr Bill Cann said: 'The business is very important and the last thing we want to see would be to see it go out of business.

'But the fundamental thing here is that the line of the roof is very nice, and it is in the middle of the conservation area, and these plans would completely ruin the building facade.

'What is before me now is not what I'd like to see in planning terms, but I am sure there are options to change these plans and help make the business viable.'