Campaigners hoping to save The Wheatley Hotel found out exactly what they were up against this week when plans from housing developers were

finally made public.

The proposals, from Pool-in-Wharfedale based Antler Homes, would see 22 new homes created on the Wheatley Lane site and part of the pub itself demolished.

Under the plans the Wheatley would be converted to provide two, two bedroom duplexes and a pair of two bedroom flats. A new, three storey extension to the pub on its south side, meanwhile, would create nine flats over three floors.

Finally, the developers are also hoping to get planning permission to build two terraces of three storey town houses.

Members of Save Us Pub (SUP), however, a group consisting of many of those who used to frequent the Wheatley before it closed last summer, say they will go all out to stop the development.

SUP's steering group, which is holding a public meeting at St John's Church tomorrow, made this new appeal to residents: "The phoney war is over - owners Punch Taverns, in the shape of developers Antler Homes, have submitted a planning application which will mean the demise of the Wheatley, if it is successful.

"We can and we will stop this if we continue to get the sort of support which the local community showed at last weekend's protest barbecue.

"We need to quickly start researching the sort of information needed to make a strong case to persuade the local planning committee to reject the application in its current form.

"There will no doubt be aspects such as traffic, overlooking and the scale of the development which will be raised but it is likely to turn on two issues - change of use/viability of the pub and loss of amenity.

"There are only 21 days to object - please come to the meeting and put forward your point of view."

SUP's long-held suspicions about the future of the pub were confirmed last week when owners Punch finally acknowledged that they had been in talks with developers.

But campaigners fiercely dispute Punch's claims that the Wheatley has no future as an inn, and stress how important the venue has been to their community - acting as a virtual clubhouse for several sports groups.

Mindful of Ben Rhydding's new conservation area status, the developers have been careful to include design features like using local stone for wall facings and slate roofs to ensure they get planning approval.

In its planning appraisal document Antler Homes also argues that as a 'brownfield', or previously used site the Wheatley is an ideal position for new housing.

The company points, too, to the fact that being so close to a railway station the development would be an example of the 'sustainable' housing being promoted by the Government.

Antler also aims to head off another of the anticipated objections, namely that the Wheatley is the only pub left to serve the Ben Rhydding community.

Its document reads: "Originally a separate settlement, Ben Rhydding is now part and parcel of the main urban area of Ilkley with no physical separation between the built-up areas."

SUP and others opposed to the move, including Ilkley MP Ann Cryer and Bradford Environment chief and Ilkley parish and district councillor, Anne Hawkesworth, will be trying their best to prove otherwise.

The group will also be using the Campaign For Real Ale's Pub Viability Test to try and prove that their local still has a future. This and other issues will be discussed at tomorrow's meeting, which starts at 7.30pm.