PUBS are more than just a building, a councillor has said as a petition is launched to save an 'iconic' Deeside building.

The Halfway House pub in Connah's Quay is permanently closed, but Cllr Andy Dunbobbin said he wants to take pro-active steps so it can reopen as a public house, rather than be converted to flats.

He told the Leader: "There is more to a pub than just a building.

"So many pubs and that now have been converted to HMOs (House of multiple occupancy) or shut down.

"A pub years ago was a place you used to go to have a drink and a catch up and offload. They were good for people's mental health as you had a place where you could go and talk through your problems and get support.

The Leader:

Councillors Andy Dunbobbin and Paul Shotton

"It wasn't just a building, it was a nice place to have a relax and a drink. I used to love the halfway house. It's a historic building and the Nomads used to play there.

"There was a few reasons why I set it up.

"I get that we need to tackle the housing crisis and we need more homes but it is a fine balance."

The Leader has previously reported that figures show pubs have been closing in Flintshire since 2007 - dropping from 170 to 100 in 2018.

Cllr Dunbobbin added in his petition that the Halfway House has been 'part of the Deeside community for decades'.

He added: "Let’s stick together so we can build our community spirit - not diminish it."

Jack Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, said around three pubs a day in the UK are closing.

He said: "Pubs are a vibrant and unique community space. Unfortunately so many are closing, equating to about three a day in the UK.

"We must do all we can to try and protect and reserve these community pubs. A big issue at the moment is social isolation and the pub plays an important part in tackling that.

"Whether you are going for a pint with your friends or Sunday dinner with your nan and grandad - there are vast amounts of services pubs can offer.

"We should do what we can to protect these as much as possible and I happily support this petition."

The Halfway House pub is currently on the market - but there is a fear it will be converted into a HMO.

Mr Sargeant added: "There is a housing crisis but a HMO is slightly different in terms of housing.

"We do need more houses, there's no doubt about that with the ever-growing population but we need the right type of housing.

"We need social and affordable homes and that emphasises the fact that more housing and more people, we need community places like pubs. Quite often, we don't know who our neighbour is."

Anyone wanting to sign the petition can do so online at https://www.change.org/p/flintshire-county-council-welsh-government-protect-the-halfway-house-pub-in-connah-s-quay