PLANS to convert a former Ribble Valley pub into four dwellings have been rejected after a heated debate between councillors.

Borough councillors eventually decided on rejecting the plans for The Moorcock Inn, which closed in 2010, after a seven against seven vote was determined on the deciding vote of the chair of the council’s planning committee.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Cllr Paul Elms, who spoke about the proposals to the planning committee, said he was firmly in favour of the conversion of the inn, which lies in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Slaidburn Road, Waddington.

He said: “It is a complete wreck of a building, it’s disused and derelict, with no architectural importance and on a busy street. It is an eyesore, a blot on the landscape and an embarrassment.”

Cllr Bridget Hilton, one of those on the committee who supported this view, said: “I do receive a lot of complaints about this building, it is an absolute eyesore and of no credit to the Ribble Valley.”

The planning application stated that members of Waddington Parish have never objected to any previous plans for the site and indeed welcomed plans to transform the location and make it an asset to the area.

Similar plans for the hotel to be knocked down and turned into housing had previously been submitted in May 2013. That was only after Ribble Valley Borough Council had turned down a proposal for demolition in November 2012 saying the size of the houses did not meet local need.

But several of the councillors said they were concerned that allowing the demolition simply because it was an ‘eyesore’ could set a damaging precedent.

Cllr James Rogerson said: “We are opening ourselves up to blackmail if we approve this. A lot less people want to live in the countryside now, people want to be near services. It would be a struggle to sell these houses.”

Cllr Robert Thompson said: “It would be a very dangerous avenue to go down.” it is against the core strategy and has problems for sustainability.”