A controversial plan to convert a grade II-listed Bradford pub into a restaurant was given the go-ahead at a heated meeting.

But angry heritage campaigners say they will now take the matter to Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles.

Yesterday, planners gave permission for the Cock and Bottle in Barkerend Road, to be partially remodelled, saying it was preferable to seeing the Victorian pub standing empty and being vandalised.

They overruled objections from English Heritage, the Victorian Society, the West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service and the Council’s own conservation team.

English Heritage had already written a letter of objection saying the pub’s interior was of national importance and that if the plan was approved, it would be protesting to Mr Pickles.

At the Bradford Area Planning Panel, tensions ran high between applicant Aftab Ali and pub campaigners Camra.

Planning officers told the panel that some of the work to the historic interior of the pub had already begun, and as a result the Council’s enforcement team had stepped in.

Camra’s pubs protection adviser Dale Ingram said Mr Ali had broken the law by making alterations without permission, and called for his prosecution.

But Mr Ali said he had had to remove the walls to a snug for safety reasons and that Camra had “vilified” him.

He said: “They’ve orchestrated quite a malicious campaign.”

Councillor Imran Khan (Lab, Bowling & Barkerend) queried how many of the objectors were local, and Councillor Keith Dredge (Lab, Keighley West) said the conversion could give the place a new lease of life.

Coun Dredge said: “It wasn’t built as a museum piece, it was built as a centre for people to congregate and socialise with each other.”

The panel granted permission, under the condition that the historic features being kept were photographed before and after the work.

After the meeting, Mr Ali said: “I’m just glad it’s over. I thought the panel was very fair. It was always my intention to preserve the important aspects of the interior.“ But Mrs Ingram said: “I think it’s appalling really. It flies in the face of everything said by the conservation team, English Heritage, the Victorian Society and the West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service, that the application should be refused.”

She said Camra would back English Heritage if it referred the matter to Mr Pickles.