TOWN planners have been urged to back plans for the £350,000 restoration of a Grade II-listed Ribble Valley village pub.

National pub chain Punch Taverns has applied to Ribble Valley Council for permission to carry out a major refurbishment of the Talbot Arms in Chipping.

The scheme, which pub bosses hoped to have completed in time for the lucrative Christmas period, would see the 200-year-old building returned to its former glory.

But councillors on the authority's planning committee have come under fire from pub bosses after expressing fears over some of the changes.

Members voted to defer the decision to planning officers who will now negotiate with the pub chain to try to reach a compromise.

Vincent Farrell, who will take over as licensee when the pub reopens, said: "Parts of this pub date from the 1700s and it's been an integral part of village life.

But it is not improving the village landscape at the moment because it is looking somewhat neglected.

"A lot of local people have complained that the pub in its current state isn't going to help Chipping's case for Best Kept Village, which is something villagers are rightly proud of.

"We are unable to proceed because there seems to be an unwillingness to compromise from the council."

If given the go-ahead, the pub - which has been closed for 12 months - would be transformed into a food-led venue designed to attract visitors to Chipping.

Punch Taverns say the plan, which includes moving a chimney breast and internal wall to create dining space, would create up to 20 jobs.

Mark Chapman, Punch's regional operations director, said: "We have been drawing up plans since February and liaising with the planning department for nearly three months.

"It's disappointing because there seems to be some resistance from within the committee over minor structural alterations included in our proposal. We hope a decision can be reached soon so we can press ahead with the refurbishment."

Other improvements will include relocating the pub's bar area, redecorating all rooms, tidying up the exterior and adding new signs.

Coun Richard Sherras, chairman of the planning committee, said: "We had some concerns about the listed building aspect of the application. This is designed to ensure the character of the building is not compromised.

"It's been deferred to officers who will now speak to the applicants to reach some kind of agreement. If they can't, it will come back before the planning committee."