Additional reporting by KMTV’s Gabriel Morris

Celebrity baker Paul Hollywood’s wife has told of the “unforgivable” personal attacks she and her family have faced over plans to turn her historic Kent pub into a house.

The controversial proposals for The Chequers Inn in Smarden, near Ashford, were narrowly approved by councillors at a meeting last night.

The public gallery was packed with villagers, with one saying “shame on you” to a tearful Mrs Hollywood following the planning committee’s decision.

The long-serving landlady of the Grade II-listed pub, which is owned by her family, was supported in the chamber at Ashford Borough Council (ABC) by her TV star husband.

She previously told how she and the Great British Bake Off judge - who she wed last September - have together pumped more than £80,000 of their own money into trying to save the business.

But speaking at the meeting last night, Mrs Hollywood said: “This drastic lack of footfall means the pub is dying on its feet and there simply aren’t enough people using it.

“This is August, one of our summer months when we should be at our busiest. Come the winter the pub will be completely untenable.

“We have therefore been left with no other choice but to close at the end of the month as funds have run out.”

With Smarden also home to The Flying Horse, owned by Shepherd Neame, and The Bell, she argued that “such a small village cannot sustain all three pubs”.

Mrs Hollywood said: “The last six months have shown us the worst in people’s behaviour, the personal insults and attacks have been unforgivable.

“We have run The Chequers Inn for nearly 17 years and have put our heart and soul into it.”

Referring to her elderly parents, who still help run the pub, she added: “Ask yourself – would you work a 12-16 hour shift every day just to make a loss, and would you do it if you were 80 years old with a life-threatening heart condition?

“Our hope is that with the change of use, someone will come to take on the pub with the knowledge that they have the benefit of a safety net should the business wind up, which it surely will.”

The application had been due to be ruled on by the planning committee in May, but councillors voted to defer a decision, pending more information on the business’s viability.

They reconvened yesterday, with dozens of residents in the public gallery, including some who have been attempting to buy the pub and run it as a community inn like The George in nearby Bethersden.

Speaking against the application, Russ Phipps of the Smarden Community Pub Group, told the meeting: “We as a group have made more than one offer to the owners to purchase the Inn on a community-run basis.

“But we have just been unable to get them to agree or engage fully with us so we can move forward.

“They seem more intent on the development potential of the site.

“The planning officers this evening want you to grant this application to turn Smarden’s ancient coaching inn, that has been trading successfully for over 600 years, into a house and be lost forever.”

He also cast doubt on the claim the pub isn’t viable, pointing to The Flying Horse and The Bell as successful rivals.

Lea Randolph of Smarden Parish Council said: “To get more money they want the borough council to turn a Grade II-listed 14th century heritage asset into a residence and deprive the village of a pub that has been part of village life for over 600 years.”

Cllr Linda Harman (Ash Ind) added: “You lose a pub in a village, you lose something really, really important, not just in terms of being somewhere to drink and eat but in terms of what it provides.”

KentOnline previously reported how in three years of the pub being for sale, there have been no viewings, with rumours movie star Johnny Depp could be interested later branded “absolute rubbish”.

Cllr Brendan Chilton (Lab) told the meeting: “It appears that the owners have done their level best to try and get an alternative provider.”

In council policy, changing the use of a pub is easier if there are other similar premises within a “reasonable walking distance”.

A planning officer explained: “Had The Chequers been the last pub in the village then this would be a very different conversation.

“I think everyone will agree it’s always regrettable to see a public house close, but that is not a planning consideration.”

Cllr Simon Betty (Ash. Ind.) stressed to the committee: “Tonight at midnight it won't miraculously turn into a seven-bedroom house.”

Currently, the ground floor of The Chequers hosts the bar and restaurant, and the upper floor has five en-suite bedrooms for let, along with accommodation for the owners.

When permission is given for a change of use, the owners have several years to implement it if they choose to. A new owner could take over and run the pub and opt to keep it as a tavern for as long as they like.

However, a council officer added: “We can’t control the pub closing tonight and never opening again.”

The committee voted to approve the application with seven in favour and five against.

As the mass of irate villagers left the chamber after the decision, one of them said to a visibly upset Mrs Hollywood: “Shame on you.”