RESIDENTS fighting to save a village pub have just over a fortnight to raise the funds needed to save the historic building.

Villagers from Gussage All Saints near Wimborne have been campaigning to prevent the Drovers Inn from being closed for good and turned into a residential property.

Since it was listed as an Asset of Community Value in February, community members have been trying to raise £450,000 in order to buy the pub.

They need to raise this amount before a change of use application comes before the East Dorset Planning Committee. The planning hearing was given a final deferral to give residents a last chance to raise the money and is due to take place on June 23.

The pub has been marketed as a going concern since January 2014, but has been unable to attract a trade buyer, despite an extensive local marketing campaign by Savills.

Adam Bullas, director of Savills Licensed Leisure, said: “The Drovers is typical of pubs that we have seen fail over the last few years. This is usually due to the size of the locality, which does not have sufficient volumes of residents to support the pub; the remoteness of the location, and the fact that the hamlet already has a licensed social club and village hall.

“After 18 months of marketing, no trade user or local group has come forward, and so we will cease marketing the property next month.”

The pub closed last year due to losses and has since been left empty and boarded up. But members of the steering group Save the Drovers are hoping the pub can be restored to its former glory for the benefit of locals, tourists and regular visitors.

Last month a community share offer was launched to bring in signed pledges to invest in the pub.

Campaigner Sally Marlow said: “Each shareholder will be entitled to an equal vote in the society, regardless of how much they invest, and they will be a co-owner of a village pub."

Mike Hirsh, a planning consultant for Intelligent Land, said: “A local pub is a landmark in any small community, and it is sad to see that many are no longer able to survive.

“The alternative is to refurbish this historic building and use it residentially in a way which is respectful and sympathetic to the local environment, and should be viewed as a positive alternative to the current situation,” he added.