A PUB has been declared an asset of community value after villages protested against its closure.

To the dismay of locals, the Lamarsh Lion closed in May after trading for more than 700 years.

A planning application was submitted to turn the building into a house.

The bid was due to be discussed by Braintree Council’s planning committee on Tuesday, until it was withdrawn last week.

Now, Braintree Council has approved Alphamstone and Lamarsh Parish Council’s application to make the Lion a community asset.

This means the pub is given a degree of protection, although the owners have asked Braintree Council to review their decision.

Residents believe closure will be a disaster for the villages of Alphamstone and Lamarsh, as there are no similar facilities in either village.

The owners have given formal notice that they intend to sell, asking for bids of £499,950.

This gives either the parish council or a group of 21 or more residents until September 16 to bid on the property.

Parish councillor Andrew Marsden said: “I very much hope that discussions between the present owners and the community will arrive at a solution which is beneficial to all concerned.

“Although while all of this has been going on there has been very little talking, I hope the owners will talk to the community and we arrive at a solution which allows it to continue as a pub, and allows them to sell it.

“They want to sell and we want it to continue as a pub, so I hope we can come to a conclusion that suits all parties.”

Records show there has been a pub on the site of the Lion since 1305. The only pub in either village is seen as a vital part of social cohesion N in both communities.