DEVELOPERS are making a renewed effort to demolish Stanmore’s last pub.

It comes after the New Queens Head in Stanmore Lane closed in February and was boarded up a few weeks later.

The leader of the campaign to save it has now said many residents have lost hope that it will ever trade again.

Campaign organiser Dave Sumsion said: “A lot of people are now saying ‘it’s gone, it’s shut, and we’ve lost it and we’ve got to face the fact that money talks’.”

It comes after the other pub on the estate, the Stanmore Hotel, was demolished three years ago to make way for a care home.

If emerging plans are approved, the New Queens Head will be replaced by housing and a convenience store.

Mr Sumsion said: “Once again we’re going to get something on the estate that’s neither wanted nor needed.”

He added that business was improving at the New Queens Head in the months leading up to its closure.

However, its owner, Enterprise Inns, argues that the venue is no longer viable.

As a result, it has agreed to sell it to Fair Oak based Bargate Homes, pending planning permission.

The developer tried to build 14 homes there last summer, but Winchester City Council refused.

Bargate appealed against the decision, but the planning inspectorate upheld the original ruling.

The appeal was dismissed last month (May) and the company now plans to try again.

Its managing director Angus Cook said they were drawing up a new scheme with housing and a convenience store.

He confirmed that they were speaking to the council about the project, and a fresh application is expected later this year.