THE owner of one of Greatham's under-threat pubs says she has faced "tremendously unfair odds" over the past four years to make sure the hotel survives.

Michelle Forster, sole proprietor of The Silver Birch Inn, says the A325 bypass has seriously hit business in the village and claims she has had no support from Greatham Parish Council or East Hampshire District Council.

She is urging people to ask themselves whether they should be entitled to a say in the future of the hotel if they don't use it.

She says more people like the idea of a village having a pub than would actually use one.

Mrs Forster circulated a letter to villagers, outlining her views, before a meeting to address the threat of both Greatham's pubs being lost.

An application to build 15 homes on The Silver Birch site was withdrawn recently but parish clerk Juliet Wrenn told The Herald that the developer could submit fresh plans after more research.

The Greene King brewery failed in its plans to build seven homes on the site of The Queen because it was not proved that the pub is no longer viable.

In the letter circulated throughout the village, Mrs Forster points out that The Silver Birch is an hotel that has struggled to survive.

She said: "Local people need to be aware and understand that the hotel has struggled against tremendously unfair odds for the past four years to provide a quality service to its residents and local customers.

"In 1997 Greatham was bypassed when the A325 was routed around the village.

"While the majority of villagers saw this as a blessing, it has had a major impact on all businesses in the village.

"The hotel trade has been dramatically affected over the past four years by the bypass and a general industry-wide downturn in the licensed trade."

She pointed out that The Silver Birch had received no help from Greatham Parish Council or from East Hampshire District Council.

Despite strong requests, there are still no signs at either end of the village to indicate that an hotel exists.

EHDC has approved signs but Mrs Forster said: "The harsh reality is that, due to profitability, we are unable to meet the costs involved.

"The Silver Birch Inn would have to find that money itself, with no guarantee that the end result would justify the expense."

She added: "It must be remembered that before any money can go out of a business, it needs to come in. In fact, The Silver Birch Inn has recently been served a summons for non-payment of commercial rates.

"This again is due to the poor profitability of the hotel. This is the stark truth of maintaining The Silver Birch Inn as a viable commercial entity."