RESIDENTS in Stirton have voiced their concerns against plans to convert Tarn House Hotel into housing.

At a packed parish meeting, residents said the proposal to turn the 19th century building into seven houses went against Craven District Council's policy to retain public services and facilities.

Resident Peter Longbottom said it could not be clearly demonstrated that the hotel was no longer required and not every effort had been made to sell it under its existing use.

Mr Longbottom said that very little had been spent on advertising the building for sale and it had come as a surprise to local people.

People were also concerned about the loss of six full-time jobs and the loss of an amenity for the caravan park as well as locals.

Lindsay Ackroyd, who owns Tarn House, said the council's policy did not apply as Tarn House was a private hotel and not a public house.

He had encouraged the public to use the bar and restaurant to try to boost its viability. "I love the place and have dedicated 22 years to try to maintain it. But without an influx of money it is not going to happen," said Mr Ackroyd.

Mr Ackroyd blamed the demise of the business on last year's foot and mouth crisis with not enough people returning to support the venture after the disease.

Tozer Rural Developments of Moorside, Cawder Ghyll, Skipton, has put in a full planning application to turn the property into seven houses. Six of the houses would be in the main three-storey building with one additional stand-alone two-storey house.

There will be 22 car parking spaces including several garages.

The Stirton Parish Meeting concluded that if the application was passed they did not have strong feelings about proposed alterations as long as the main elevation was not changed.

However they disliked the trellis fencing which would be put up on the existing concrete car park to separate the flats as it would destroy the architects' efforts to retain the building's features.

They also objected to converting a garage into a house and putting new garages on the main drive.

In a letter in last week's Herald, Derek Breckon claimed he and his partner had received a verbal agreement to buy Tarn House as a going concern. Mr Ackroyd said this not the case, and solicitors were dealing with the matter.

The business will close next month, and January 18 has been put forward as a possible date for the auction of the hotel's contents.