ONE of Canterbury's smaller hotels is to close and be returned to residential use as it is not getting enough trade.

Councillors have agreed Pointers Hotel, an imposing three-story house in on the corner of London Road and Whitstable Road, can be converted into six flats.

The decision is against the district's local plan policies, which say tourist accommodation must be retained.

But the two star hotel has been struggling to survive and it has not been possible for the owner to sell it on as a hotel.

Christine O'Brien-Jack took over the hotel in 1982 and although built up a good trade in the 1980s, has found it increasingly hard to keep the business going.

"We have really suffered from competition from the big chain hotels," said Mrs O'Brien-Jack. "We are very pleased with the council's decision and are looking forward to retirement."

The Council's Tourism Development team are not objecting to the closure which means the loss of 12 rooms to accommodate tourists.

Although more hotel beds are wanted in the city, the demand for accommodation offered by hotels such as Pointers is in doubt.

A survey in the city this summer revealed that people were preferring to stay at chain hotels such as Holiday Inn.