A NEW offer is being lined up by villagers to buy a former Derbyshire pub and stop it becoming a funeral directors.
Mark Gregory said the offer is "substantially higher" than £300,000 he has already put in on behalf of other angry Findern folk to buy The Wheel Inn.
South Derbyshire District Council has given permission to Murray's Funeral Directors, of Burton, to convert the pub.
Mr Gregory, 50, of Longlands Lane, Findern, said: "I hope that the hassle will put pressure on them to realise this is not wanted here.
"When the offer is organised I will send it off in writing. I can't see much point in the building being turned into a funeral directors.
"We will not want a funeral cortege coming through all day. Life is depressing enough without one of those here. We need to try and enjoy life.
"If it was down a back street then fine, but this parlour will be on the main road in the village. This new offer will be the new fight."
Punch Taverns closed the pub in April. Mr Gregory said anger in the village has not died down.
South Derbyshire MP Heather Wheeler is backing the residents' campaign and proudly wore a Save the Wheel Inn T-shirt at the Findern village fete last weekend.
Mrs Wheeler said she would be campaigning against planning rules, which meant a pub can remain if it is the last in the village, unless there is permission for a funeral parlour. She said: "The legislation needs to be replaced and that is my focus in Parliament by talking to ministers."
Steve Johnson, managing director of Archway Motors, is also backing the campaign and sees the benefits of a village pub. He said: "Regardless of whom the potential buyers may be, we believe that, for the long-term benefit of the community, The Wheel Inn must remain as a pub, which is why we are backing this campaign.
"Archway Motors is the longest-established business in the village and generations of my family have frequented The Wheel over the years.
"We need businesses like The Wheel to maintain community cohesion – and it would be a great shame if we were to lose such an asset, which, with the right level of investment, has the potential to be a great community pub once again."
David Barke, from Murray's Funeral Directors, said: "Contrary to the many false rumours circulated by the Save the Wheel group, we have received only one unsolicited expression of interest, but as they didn't give an address or even cover the true costs of purchasing the site, we decided not to take it any further.
"We are continuing with our plans to refurbish our new premises. There is much to be done as the building was left in a poor state of repair. Once the renovations are completed, we look forward to playing an active role in the community for many years to come."
