Plans to reopen Welshampton pub are unveiled

Up to 20 jobs could be created as part of plans to breathe new life into a village pub in rural Shropshire which has stood empty for four years.

The Sun Inn at Welshampton, near Ellesmere, has been snapped up by developers who have tabled plans to reopen it.

Plans have been submitted to Shropshire Council and also include building four detached and two semi-detached homes to the rear of the site.

Whitchurch-based applicants Sircar Builders say the scheme would bring full-time and part-time jobs to the area and provide a tourism boost for the village.

Proposals also include running a bed and breakfast business alongside the pub.

The Sun Inn closed suddenly in May 2007 sparking a public campaign backed by North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson to save it.

Today Chris Symes, chairman of Welshampton and Lyneal Parish Council, welcomed the news.

He said: "It's fair to say a lot of people in the village want to see the pub re-opened. It has been a big miss.

"Developers also want to create a rather nice restaurant and make improvements to a pavement to make it safer for people entering from the car park."

He added the parish council would be formally discussing the plans at its next meeting on Wednesday. The public has until April 4 to comment.