An historic Forest of Dean pub, which has had a number of improvements made to it, without permission, has been told that the upgrades can remain.

The owners of the Grade II listed Red Lion Inn at Huntley, which dates back to the 1600s, installed play equipment and covered seating, along with an iron cut-out plaque with the phrase ‘Lest We Forget, to commemorate soldiers who have died in conflict and will be positioned outside the front of the pub.

Herefordshire Council case officer Hannah Ryan said in her report to the authority that a number of local residents have objected to the improvements but concluded that the climbing frame was some 23 metres from properties nearby and the climbing frame is set in a public house garden, whereby noise can already be expected irrespective of a climbing frame.However, as part of the retrospective planning permission the council requested that the pub should re-site the play area a further 10 metres from neighbouring homes to ‘lessen any overlooking impact’.