A VILLAGE pub is a step closer to having its future secured after a review found a council was right to award it special community status.

Maldon District Council has awarded the asset of community value title to the Compasses, in Colchester Road, Great Totham, three times.

But following objections from pub owner David Clay the authority removed the title.

Now following a review by the council’s legal and democratic services manager Melissa Kelly it has been decided the status was rightly awarded.

It comes as Mr Clay has appealed against a decision to refuse his bid to transform the pub’s car park into two houses.

Being listed as an “asset of community value” means the owner cannot sell the site for six weeks to allow a community group to express interest in buying it.

Pub licensees Alex Chambers and Hayley Rogers took over the pub last year and were awarded the Maldon branch of Campaign for Real Ale award for best Maldon watering hole last month.

The report by Ms Kelly said: “It is clear that the continued existence of the Compasses is sufficient to render a belief that there could be the potential for future non-ancillary use of the building which furthers the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community.”

Resident John Danaher and Chris Harvey, chairman for Maldon CAMRA, spoke out against the pub being stripped of the status.

Mr Harvey said: “John was absolutely brilliant and really explained why it was important for the pub to be there.

“Without it there would be no heart and soul left in Great Totham north.

“We are delighted but we will have to see where we go from here.

“It is another step on the road to making sure the pub will always continue to be there and that people can visit and park their cars there.”