DEVELOPERS snubbed residents of Twyford near Winchester who wanted to discuss the future of a threatened pub.

The Bugle Inn in Twyford closed in late July after new owners, the Inntown Pub Company, boarded up the windows and fenced off the car park.

It has submitted plans to Winchester City Council for ten new homes on the site.

Twyford Parish Council invited the Ringwood based developer to its meeting.

About 20 residents came to hear Inntown's plans, but nobody from the company turned up. Chris Corcoran, council chairman, said: "We've invited them here and I'm very disappointed that Inntown pubs have not attended."

About 80 residents formed the Save The Bugle Action Group earlier this month to save the 19th century pub in the High Street.

One of the campaigners, Rod Graham, told the meeting: "We're facing a situation where developers have bought the land with the expressed intent of making a lot of money from it."

He claimed Inntown was straining at the leash to redevelop the Bugle.

"The fact they put in an application so fast indicates that, for financial reasons, they have to do something with this site quickly."

Local city councillor Jim Wagner said Inntown would struggle to gain permission to redevelop the site. He explained that the authority's policy was to maintain popular amenities, which applied to the pub.

Nobody from the Inntown pub company was available to comment on why they did not attend the meeting. While the Bugle faces an uncertain future, so does Twyford Social Club in nearby Queen Street.

The club, which opened in 1927 and has about 200 members, is short of funds. The trustees applied to the city council to demolish the venue in August and replace it with four houses. The plan was rejected.

Club committee member, Alfred Nutbeam, said the application was designed to increase the site's value.