HISTORIC Monkman's Restaurant in Pool-in-Wharfedale is set to be demolished - despite strong opposition.

On Tuesday, members of Leeds City Council's area planning panel said they were appalled and dismayed that a demolition notice had been issued by owner Chris Monkman for the Pool Bank New Road Georgian style building.

Although the council turned down an application in January to demolish the building and replace it with six houses and two flats, because the building is not listed there is nothing to stop it being demolished.

At the Development Control Panel West meeting, Councillor Phil Coyne (Lab, Otley and Wha-rfedale) said: "I am very disappointed to see the notification for the demolition of Monkman's Restaurant.

"The community in Pool and throughout the Whar-fedale area have expressed very strongly their view that the building should be retained.

"And with such a strong expression of community wishes, I think it is highly regrettable that this building is to be demolished."

And Coun Moira Dunn (Lab, Aireborough) added: "It is not just the people in Pool who are against it, but all over Aireborough.

"People have said to me that they are absolutely appalled."

Villagers have been campaigning for two years to stop the building, believed to date back to the late 18th Century, from being demolished and turned into houses.

Earlier attempts to get the building listed have failed but following the demolition notice, Pool 2020 is appealing to English Heritage against the decision.

In January, the planning panel went against the recommendation of its planning officers and refused plans to build six houses and a block of two flats on the site of the restaurant.

l Meanwhile, Pool parish clerk Betty Swift said she has received a lot of queries from residents in the village concerned about the demolition order.

She told Monday's meeting of Pool Parish Council that she has asked Leeds City Council planning officers for help to stop the plan, but was told no steps could be taken.

"They suggested I write to the Department of Culture and also to English Heritage, to say we support the idea of protecting the building," she said.