The landlord of a now-closed rural pub has said he will not give up his home despite having his plans for it refused.

Michael Whitehouse had asked for permission to change the use of The Amazon and Tiger, in Harvel, near Meopham, from a public house into a residential property.

The scheme was discussed at a Gravesham council planning committee last week (May 22).

Speaking at the meeting, Micheal said: “The officers’ report has failed to explain that locals did not frequent the pub to keep it viable.

“The accounts speak for themselves and go way before Covid struck. The pub had not made a profit by which I mean a living wage since before 2015.

“It has not made a five-figure profit in years. I would have closed years earlier if it were not for starting the B&B which made a return.

“The pub is never going to reopen because not only was it unviable for almost 10 years before I closed, I am not going to leave my home.

“Nobody would take over the space without the living accommodation.”

The landlord said he bought the boozer in 1995 as a “derelict building” which had been “abandoned for two years” and brought it back to life.

However, he claimed it then continued to “decline and decline” when questioned over its viability and promotion of the pub by Cllr Lee Croxton (Lab) and Cllr Deborah Croxton (Lab).

Michael added: “There were so many things that kept hitting us. I took on jobs to keep this place going. I have had enough, that pub will not make money.

“I never made a living out of this. I had an existence and a roof over my head.”

Three residents of Harvel spoke against the application, claiming if it were to go ahead it would be “detrimental” to the village.

Justin Barrett, who has lived in the area for 20 years and attended many events at The Amazon and Tiger, said: “It is a vital community assest, it is the heart of the community.

“There is potential for its success. If it goes, we will not get it back.”

Trevor Jones, who grew up in Harvel, added: “Tins in the village hall is not the same as going down to your local pub.”

Cllr Samir Jassal (Con) urged residents and the landlord to “not be at war with each other” over the application, seeing both sides of the argument.

He said: “It sounds as though Micheal has tried his very best. I do not think he wants to come across as stripping the community of an asset.”

Fellow member, Cllr Ejaz Aslam (Con), added: “I do agree running a business it is very difficult but here we have a historic pub that has served the community and there is interest from the community.”

Cllr Debroah Croxton (Lab) said: “I think it would be a shame for the pub to be lost to redevelopment.”

The pub, which was built in 1914 and run continuously as one, closed in April 2021 when the landlord retired.

It was declared an Asset of Community Value (ACV) after a successful application by Meopham Parish Council in May 2021, and the landlord had permission to still live above it.

Although it is an ACV, this does not restrict what the owner can do when it remains in their possession from a planning perspective.

The following year, planning permission was granted to run part of the extended premises as a B&B while the pub was shut despite villagers’ fears it would be the first step to it being used purely as a residential building.

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Councillors voted unanimously to refuse the latest proposals.

Speaking after the decision, clerk to Meopham Parish Council, Shaun Fishenden, said: “The parish council strongly objected to the application for change of use as The Amazon and Tiger is registered as an ACV.

“We believed the permanent loss of a vital community asset was unacceptable, and we are pleased that the borough council confirmed the proposed change of use was contrary to both national and local planning policy.

“We invite any local community groups interested in protecting the Amazon and Tiger to contact the parish council so that we can identify any opportunities to offer our support towards safeguarding and in the long term, re-opening this much-loved pub.”