OKEHAMPTON looks set to lose one of its pubs after permission was this week given to turn a public house into flats. West Devon Borough Council's planning committee has granted permission to turn the Exeter Arms into a shop and three residential flats. The pub closed in August 2013. The front of the pub will be turned into a shop, in an effort to keep the frontage on East Street commercial. Though the town will still be left with six public houses open — the White Hart, the Kings Arms, the Pretoria Vaults, the Plymouth Inn, the London Inn, and the Fountain Inn — Okehampton Town Council objected to the development due to the loss of an amenity for the town. Speaking at the planning meeting Tuesday, Cllr Tony Leech said: 'The Exeter Arms had a good clientele, and it was used by numerous sports clubs as a place to meet up. 'It is and should still be an amenity to the town. Two years before it closed, the whole pub was refurbished. 'The landlord at the time must have had long term plans to run it as a pub, and see it as economically viable. 'From a planning perspective it is extremely difficult to say anything against the development. But it will be a loss. 'I know the town would prefer to see it remain as a public house.' The applicant, Nigel Travers-Griffin, also spoke at the meeting. He said: 'I appreciate the sensitive and emotive nature of such a conversion. However, there are no material planning considerations to object to, and there have been no objections from neighbours. 'The development offers a good quality of residential properties, and retains an important commercial presence on East Street.' Case officer Jeremy Guise said: 'The loss of the Exeter Arms still leaves six acting public houses to serve the town. 'I think it is a struggle to argue that it is needed as essential to the provision of Okehampton. 'The fact that the building will retain a commercial frontage is also beneficial.'