Chiltern District Council voted against the proposal to convert a historic village pub into a nursery last week, at a meeting attended by residents from Ley Hill who travelled to the council offices especially for the verdict.

Residents arrived in a coach and cars to hear the decision of the planning committee on Thursday evening. The plans to close The Swan pub and convert it into a nursery have been a highly contentious issue in the village.

The committee heard evidence from objectors, who claimed that there were several factors preventing the plans from being viable.

These factors included: an increase in noise generated through the day, a lack of viable parking options for both parents dropping off children and staff and the loss of a major part of the village’s community spaces.

Councillors in favour of the proposals however cited that the village also has The Crown pub on Blackwell Hall Lane, the same road where The Swan is based, meaning that there would still be a community pub in the village.

The issue of the noise increase was also counteracted as Councillor Jones asked fellow councillors and the residents in attendance “would you rather have kids shouting at 3.30, or drunk people fighting at 11?”

The decision was made by the councillors after a lengthy debate, with six councillors voting against the plans and four voting in favour. The decision was greeted with applause from residents in attendance.

The grounds for rejection were based on the problems of traffic congestion, no designated parking areas and no footways for parents and children to use.

Speaking after the decision, Dave and Sarah Peterson from campaign group Save Our Swan said: “All the villagers of Ley Hill are delighted that the planning application for the change of use from a pub into a children's nursery was refused oat Thursdays meeting.

“Many of the villagers were coached in from Ley Hill to attend and so the meeting room was full of objectors. The villagers and those on the planning committee who supported the rejection were very keen to keep this iconic, historic, 500 year old pub and restaurant for everyone to enjoy. Long live The Swan”