A BID to widen the use of the town’s former railway club has been rejected as a new bar and café at the site opens its doors.

An appeal had been lodged by Jaqueline Harvey of Saston Ltd, owners of the Andover Railway Social Club, to the Planning Inspectorate to convert it into shops.

Saston Ltd argued that the building would be “suited to better use”, but government planning chiefs refused the notion and deemed that it should continue as a club.

The decision posted last month highlighted that there was still a community benefit for the Station Approach site and any change result in a loss to the town.

It read: “Although the club was for members and not open to the general public, I would still regard the use as a community facility. It was the choice of the previous tenant to make the club available for members only, but any future operators could take a different approach. As such, with the building in generally good condition, there is the potential for it to positively contribute to the local community as a form of social club.”

The inspector also said that if the club was converted into shops that there would be “a demand for parking provision” it deemed would lead to “anti-social car parking”.

However, the inspector found that although there would be “some economic benefit to the area and also employment” it did not “outweigh the issue of the loss of the community facility” which would also provide employment.

And in his determination the inspector said: “Although I have found that the proposal would not result in harm to highway safety, the harm that I have found in respect of the loss of a community facility is significant and is a compelling reason to dismiss the appeal.”

Before the outcome, talks had already begun for a bar and café to be opened in the club.

Earlier this month Dave’’s Bar and Café opened its doors, hoping to offer a family-friendly facility that will be a benefit to the community.

David Denyer has big plans for the place, with work being carried out to renovate the site and provide a space for groups in the town to use, with dedicated areas for club members to use.

Andover Railway Social Club shut at the end of March 2017 after 63 years.