Pub will not close - landlord

A pub landlord last night insisted he did not want to close his business after a petition was launched opposing his plans to "downsize". Graham Scott has run the King's Head at Pulham St Mary, near Diss, for 13 years, but said the last few years had been difficult.

A pub landlord last night insisted he did not want to close his business after a petition was launched opposing his plans to "downsize".

Graham Scott has run the King's Head at Pulham St Mary, near Diss, for 13 years, but said the last few years had been difficult.

He has applied to South Norfolk Council to turn part of the pub into a house and build two more homes in the grounds. However, it has prompted fears that the pub would close, leaving the village without one.

"Several other country pubs in the area have downsized. They have left the facility there for the village and with a business that stacks up a lot better," he said.

"The business rates go down, the maintenance goes down, energy costs are a fraction of the cost and you don't need a lot of staff."

But resident Chris Burridge said: "I've 80-odd names on the petition so far so there are quite a lot of people in support of our concerns."

But Mr Scott stressed that he planned to begin serving food at the pub again in future.

"The pub will be upgraded and cater for the village need," he said.