THE landlord of a historic Bolton pub denied permission to modernise the Grade II listed building has vowed to fight the decision all the way to Whitehall.

Dennis Holmes and his wife Christine could take their fight to knock down two internal walls of The Finishers Arms in Smithills all the way to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles.

This follows refusal by councillors on Bolton Council's planning committee of permission to turn the 200-year-old pub from three rooms to one by taking down the two walls and three doorways which currently divide it.

The councillors voted by 19 votes to one against the application after conservation officers, based at Stockport, recommended refusal on grounds that the alterations my damage the integrity of the building.

The Holmes couple, backed by pub company Punch Taverns, say they now think it is pointless pursuing the issue any further with Bolton Council because their plan was so heavily defeated.

“I think the planning committee have been very short-sighted,” said Mr Holmes, who has been running the Finishers for 12 years.

“They are standing in the way of the progress of the pub — it is absolutely petty."

Mr Holmes paid tribute to one councillor, Smithills Liberal Democrat member Andrew Martin, who voted in favour of the alterations.

Cllr Martin told the planning committee meeting he backed the plan because there had been a dramatic decrease in the number of pubs.

“I think pubs are a valuable part of the community, and I want them to succeed,” he said.

“I don’t see this as being greatly detrimental to the heritage value, and I think it could bring jobs to the area too.”

Mr Holmes said Cllr Martin had been the only member of the committee to visit the pub in advance of the meeting.

“He was the only one to see the project in the flesh," said Mr Holmes.

Punch Taverns property manager for the North West Nigel Garland said the Finishers application would be discussed at the firm’s capital investment meeting on January 30.

“We will explore various alternatives because we are concerned with supporting the people who run our pubs and that may include taking it to the Secretary of State,” he said.