ONE of the few remaining pubs in the Marston area of Oxford has been given a reprieve after plans to knock it down and turn it into housing were withdrawn by developers.

The Jack Russell Pub, in Salford Road, which has stood derelict since it was sold by brewery Greene King in October 2015 had been earmarked for demolition.

An application was submitted earlier this year to transform the site into 16 flats on three floors, together with 19 car parking spaces , an application which was expected to be decided by Oxford City Council.

In a U-turn, however, developers last month withdrew its application for the housing development altogether.

The news that one of Marston’s last remaining pubs may not be knocked down after all was greeted with relief by Marston councillor Mick Haines.

Mr Haines, who previously blasted the housing plans as a ‘carbuncle’ said that he was relieved that the application had now been withdrawn.

He said: “I am very pleased it has been withdrawn.

“Hopefully now they can get a public place there or something for the community, like a park or something like that, or a space for the community to use.

“It could be a pub again if the right people took it over. We are really short on pubs now, it is one of the last few pubs.”

Old Marston Parish Council vice-chairman Duncan Hatfield said: "The plan itself was not welcome. The size of the development was huge and it just wasn't right really.

"A lot of people felt it was not right for the area and didn't want it. A lot of people I have spoken to would like to see more of a community facility there and not just housing.

"I think it probably won't be a pub there again. People go to the supermarket for their drinks now, and more pubs are closing down. People are getting their entertainment from the internet.

"It is the same with nightclubs which are also closing down. The culture is changing. It is a shame the pub has closed but people just stopped using it."

Marston has seen a wave of pubs close down in recent years, including The Friar, on the corner of Marston Road and Old Marston Road, which was demolished in 2013 and turned into the Friar Court flats.

The Bricklayers pub, in Church Lane, also closed in 2010 and subsequently became a housing development. The Cavalier pub, in Copse Lane, followed shortly afterwards and was replaced by flats after being demolished in 2012.

The developers behind the housing project for the Jack Russell Pub were contacted for comment but did not respond.