A VILLAGE pub which faced closure over plans to build homes on its car park has been saved after it was sold to its licensees.

The Compasses in Great Totham had been threatened with planning applications for two homes on the car park of the site.

But at the weekend licensees Alex Chambers and Hayley Rogers confirmed they had secured the freehold for the Colchester Road pub.

The homes plans submitted by former owner David Clay were rejected by Maldon District Council.

Mr Gray later submitted an unsuccessful planning appeal.

Asset of community value status was also awarded to the Compasses despite objections from Mr Clay which saw the title removed, before later being reinstated.

Hayley, who took over running the pub in February 2015, said the future was now looking bright for the watering hole.

She said: “After the planning got refused he agreed to sell it.

“It will now absolutely stay a pub. We are looking to make improvements – bits and pieces that need to are all going to be done.

“It is onwards and upwards. We might be able to do a farmers market in the car park on Saturdays. There are all different things we didn’t feel we could do before we were the owners.

“We are the only pub in Totham North and it is quite nice to be able to say it will remain a pub.”

Hayley said if the homes had been given the green light it would have seen the end of the pub.

“It would definitely have shut the pub,” she said. “We would have only had eight car parking spaces, including for staff.”

Earlier this year The Compasses was voted the best pub in the county for 2016 by Essex Campaign for Real Ale members.