CONTROVERSIAL plans to pull down The Jolly Sailor pub on the outskirts of Petersfield and build a block of flats in its place have been given the go ahead by a government planning inspector. The plans were turned down by East Hampshire District Council at the end of last year on the grounds of overdevelopment of the site. Owner of the public house Ray Clayton appealed against the decision to Government inspector Simon Gibbs who this week announced he had allowed the appeal. Making his decision Mr Gibbs said he believed the plan left enough space around the buildings for landscaping, amenity land and car parking provision and for the long-term retention of those trees close to the back of the site which were subject to a tree preservation order. He said there would also be a welcome introduction of planting on the road frontage and he did not consider there would be a conflict with East Hampshire District Council's Local Plan policies. In addition Mr Gibbs said he did not believe the proposed development would give rise to an unacceptable risk to highway safety: "The redevelopment proposal would make use of an existing access to a road that with the construction of the Petersfield by-pass is no longer of such significance for traffic." Petersfield town councillors raised strong objections to the plan when Mr Clayton first submitted his proposal to replace The Jolly Sailor with a block of eight flats and two detached homes. They said they were concerned about the loss of the public house which they felt could be a viable business. This week after the appeal decision was announced, town mayor Paul Molloy told The Herald: "This is very disappointing. It is particularly sad to lose this public house which is the only pub between the centre of the town and Buriton, which has a huge catchment area and which people have used a great deal. Fellow town councillor George Watkinson added: "I think this is a great shame. The pub could have served Petersfield well, but the Inspector did not agree with me and it is now going to be turned into houses."