WITH another village pub under threat of conversion to houses, isn’t it time for planning committees, which have an obligation to protect our national heritage, to say enough is enough?

The King’s Arms in Downton has been a pub for more than 300 years and, given the character of the property, is potentially the most viable pub in the village. The new owner has never attempted to run the pub as a business.

As for the opposition from neighbours, if you don’t want to live near to a pub then don’t buy the house. The other argument is that Downton already has three other pubs.

If the quantity of any local facilities is a major planning consideration, why is a new supermarket even being considered for Salisbury?

Any listed pub should remain a pub. If this was the law of the land then speculators would not get involved, and the price of the pub would then reflect that this is all it could ever be.

Please do not insult the people of Downton or try to appease your conscience by retaining the sign writing and facade, in the belief you are doing us and future generations some sort of favour. It is time to stop parasites buying up empty pubs and immediately claiming they are not viable, with the sole intention of a money-making conversion.

Chris White, Downton