RESIDENTS are calling for a pub at “the heart” of a village to be reopened.

The Compasses pub at 12 Colchester Road in Great Totham has been closed since April 2019.

Owner Alex Chambers is looking for new tenants to take over the pub.

Residents were initially under the impression it was being refurbished.

They hoped it would reopen to provide a place for residents to meet each other and socialise.

But nearly four years later, the pub is yet to reopen and residents say they have been left with no answers.

One Great Totham villager said: “The Compasses pub has been shut for years now. No one knows what is going on or why it closed and we would like it to re-open.

“Great Totham north has no walkable pub, restaurant or food shop.

"There is no heart of the community here and there is no place for new residents to mix with locals.

“On Facebook, after multiple messages from locals to the landlord, it was stated that it would re-open and photos of refurbishment were uploaded.”

He added: “However, all has gone quiet and the landlord now, when questioned, states why would he re-open.

“It’s all very strange, but this is affecting a whole community - a community which would fully support a re-opening, even for someone else to take it over, if the landlord decides not to continue.

“Many traders in the area have contacted the landlord and offered help in refurbishing which is amazing, but all to no avail.”

Maldon and Dengie CAMRA chairman James Burrell Cook said: “The current situation is Alex has recently given the Maldon and Dengie CAMRA an update on the Compasses through a former employee.

"Alex has said that he is looking for new tenants and the pub is not up for sale.”