Angry pubgoers have slammed a council decision to approve plans to turn their local into a shop and flat.

Staff and customers from the The Woodman Inn, Colchester Road, Halstead, told a Braintree Council meeting the pub is an important community asset.

However, councillors said they were powerless to refuse the plans because they could not base their decision on a potential change of use.

Current tenant Shaun Redfern said: “Another pub bites the dust, courtesy of your local council.

“They could have asked for a detailed report from highways but it was a done deal, they are prepared to take a risk with people’s lives.”

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