LAST orders may not have been called just yet at a supposedly doomed pub.

The Red Lion in Weston shut its doors in March last year before owner Mark Shadbolt then applied to convert the building in Damask Green Road into a house.

The pub’s closure left The Cricketers as the only remaining pub in the village.

Mr Shadbolt’s application was rejected by North Herts District Council’s planning control committee last year. He was appealing against the decision but has now withdrawn that appeal.

Weston Parish Council supports the Red Lion reopening as a pub.

Cllr Steve Jarvis said: “Now the appeal has been withdrawn there is a better chance the Red Lion can reopen as a pub. That’s certainly a possibility.

“In a village like Weston they should definitely be able to run two successful pubs and people want to see the Red Lion back open.

“That could be done by a consortium made up of people from the village, or by someone on their own. The idea of a group of villagers taking over has been discussed, and there is interest there from local people. It would certainly offer long-term security for the pub if local people were in charge.

“Really, it is all in the hands of the guy who owns it. He probably recognises he didn’t stand a good chance of winning his appeal and maybe he will start to approach the idea of offering the pub to the people of the village.

“I’m sure they would snap it up at a realistic price.

“One thing which is for sure is that it’s not doing anyone any good by just sitting there empty.”

Mr Shadbolt did not wish to comment.